title: First-generation linkage map for the European tree frog (Hyla arborea) with utility in congeneric species.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Western Palearctic tree frogs (Hyla arborea group) represent a strong potential for evolutionary and conservation genetic research, so far underexploited due to limited molecular resources. New microsatellite markers have recently been developed for Hyla arborea, with high cross-species utility across the entire circum-Mediterranean radiation. Here we conduct sibship analyses to map available markers for use in future population genetic applications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We characterized eight linkage groups, including one sex-linked, all showing drastically reduced recombination in males compared to females, as previously documented in this species. Mapping of the new 15 markers to the ~200 My diverged Xenopus tropicalis genome suggests a generally conserved synteny with only one confirmed major chromosome rearrangement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new microsatellites are representative of several chromosomes of H. arborea that are likely to be conserved across closely-related species. Our linkage map provides an important resource for genetic research in European Hylids, notably for studies of speciation, genome evolution and conservation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore building, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. Christophe.Dufresnes@unil.ch.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dufresnes
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brelsford
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Perrin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000235:genetics*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D005828:Genetics, Population; D016678:Genome; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012737:Sex Factors; D026801:Synteny