title: Development of microsatellite loci for the endangered seagrass Zostera japonica (Zosteraceae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  New microsatellite markers were developed for the Asian endangered seagrass Zostera japonica (Zosteraceae) to assess genetic diversity and population structure of this species. In China, Z. japonica populations have drastically decreased since the 1970s.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 12 polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized in Z. japonica. The number of alleles per locus ranged from one to 11. The expected and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0 to 0.772 and from 0 to 1.000, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new microsatellites will be useful in evaluating clonality and population structure of Z. japonica and aiding in conservation and management of the endangered seagrass in Asia.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, People's Republic of China ; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A, Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dongxiu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin-Xian
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Zostera japonica; Zosteraceae; clonality; population genetics; seagrass