title: A multiplex microsatellite set for non-invasive genotyping and sexing of the osprey (Pandion haliaetus).
abstract: During the 1950s and 1970s the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) experienced a dramatic population crash and remains of conservation concern in several parts of the world. We isolated 37 microsatellite loci and assessed these in ospreys sampled in the UK and Norway (using mouth swabs/feathers). From 26 loci variable in four ospreys, we selected 13, combined these into two multiplex-PCR sets and included a sex-typing marker. Additional markers confirmed sexes. In 17 ospreys, feather-sampled in central Norway, we found 3-10 alleles per locus. The 13 loci are autosomal (heterozygotes were present in both sexes) and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.24 to 0.94. The combined probability of identity for the 13 loci was 8.0 × 10-12. These microsatellite loci will be useful for genetic monitoring, parentage analysis and population genetic studies of the osprey.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TN UK.
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7485 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Oddmund
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kleven
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TN UK.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dos Remedios
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TN UK.
authors.forename: Gavin J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Horsburgh
authors.affiliation: Nord-Trøndelag University College, 7729 Steinkjer, Norway.
authors.forename: Rolf T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Kroglund
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TN UK ; Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK.
authors.forename: Colin R A
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hewitt
keywords: Birds of prey; Feather; Raptor; Sex-typing; Simple Tandem Repeat (STR); Swabs; Western osprey