title: Microsatellite marker development for the coastal dune shrub Prunus maritima (Rosaceae).
abstract: •
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Microsatellite primers were developed in the beach plum, Prunus maritima, to investigate the genetic composition of remaining populations in need of conservation and, in future studies, to determine its relation to P. maritima var. gravesii. •
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen primer pairs were identified and tested in four populations throughout the species' geographic range. Of these 14 loci, 12 were shown to be polymorphic among a total of 60 P. maritima individuals sampled (15 individuals sampled from four populations). Among the polymorphic loci, the number of alleles ranged from two to 10 and observed heterozygosity of loci ranged from 0.07 to 0.93 among specimens tested. •
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These microsatellites will be useful in evaluating the population genetic composition of P. maritima and in developing approaches for further conservation and management of this species within the endangered coastal dune ecosystem of the northeastern United States.
authors.affiliation: Biology Program, Centre College, 600 West Walnut Street, Danville, Kentucky 40422 USA.
authors.forename: Emily M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Badgley
authors.affiliation: Biology Program, Centre College, 600 West Walnut Street, Danville, Kentucky 40422 USA ; Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54311 USA.
authors.forename: Lisa C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Grubisha
authors.affiliation: Biology Program, Centre College, 600 West Walnut Street, Danville, Kentucky 40422 USA.
authors.forename: Anna K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Roland
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Framingham State University, 100 State Street, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701 USA.
authors.forename: Bryan A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.affiliation: Biology Program, Centre College, 600 West Walnut Street, Danville, Kentucky 40422 USA.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Klooster
keywords: Prunus maritima; Rosaceae; coastal dune ecosystem; conservation genetics; microsatellites; plum; population genetics