title: Development and characterization of seven polymorphic microsatellite loci in Bembidion atrocaeruleum (Coleoptera: Carabidae).
abstract: We isolated seven polymorphic microsatellite loci from a ground beetle (Bembidion atrocaeruleum, Coleoptera, Carabidae (Stephens, 1826)) associated with naturally and regularly disturbed floodplain habitat in northwest Europe. Loci were tested on 157 individuals collected from five distinct habitat patches across two adjacent drainage basins in Wales, United Kingdom, to assess their potential for revealing population structure across a relatively short spatial extent. Alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 12. For a central representative population, expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.23 to 0.78 (mean: 0.63), and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.16 to 0.94 (mean: 0.56). Analysis of molecular variance indicated significant structure among populations, even when one locus potentially containing null alleles was removed. These loci have the potential to aid the study of dispersal mechanisms of this important riparian species along and between river corridors, a recurring question in floodplain conservation studies. In addition, given the diversity of the Bembidion genus, they may have utility in the study of sister species.
authors.affiliation: School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom m.j.ocallaghan@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Matt J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
authors.affiliation: School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvalis, Oregon, US.
authors.forename: Debra S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.affiliation: Environment Agency, Exminster House, Exeter, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sadler
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution / Q000145:classification; D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D017753:Ecosystem; D006579:Heterozygote; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014852:Wales
keywords: Bembidion; Coleoptera; disturbance; floodplain; microsatellite