Abstract
Using 454 sequencing, we developed 16 novel microsatellite loci in the scimitar-horned oryx, Oryx dammah, a member of the Bovidae endemic to north Africa, now listed as ‘Extinct in the Wild’ and requiring intensive ex-situ management for species persistence. These loci were used to characterise diversity in a portion of the captive Australian population which has yet to be thoroughly investigated via molecular methods. Fourteen out of the 16 loci were polymorphic in the Australian population, with a mean of 2 (±0.23) alleles per loci. These new markers will be useful in determining genetically important individuals from the global O. dammah population for captive breeding programs.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
de Gortari MJ, Freking BA, Kappes SM, Leymaster KA, Stone RT, Beattie CW, Crawford AM (1997) Extensive genomic conservation of cattle microsatellite heterozygosity in sheep. Anim Genet 28:274–290. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2052.1997.00153.x
Gardner MG, Fitch AJ, Bertozzi T, Lowe AJ (2011) Rise of the machines—recommendations for ecologists when using next generation sequencing for microsatellite development. Mol Ecol Resour 11(6):1093–1101. doi:10.1111/j.1755-0998.2011.03037.x
IUCN, 2012 Oryx dammah (Scimitar-horned Oryx) available at http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15568/0
Iyengar A, Gilbert T, Woodfine T, Knowles JM, Diniz FM, Brenneman RA, Louis EE, Maclean N (2007) Remnants of ancient genetic diversity preserved within captive groups of scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah). Mol Ecol 16:2436–2449. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03291.x
Meglécz E, Costedoat C, Dubut V, Gilles A, Malausa T, Pech N, Martin JF (2010) QDD: a user-friendly program to select microsatellite markers and design primers from large sequencing projects. Bioinf Appl Note 26(3):403–404. doi:10.1093/bioinformatics/btp670
Newby JE (1978) Scimitar-horned oryx—the end of a line? Oryx 14:219–221. doi:10.1017/S0030605300024662
Newby JE (1980) Can addax and oryx be saved in the sahel? Oryx 15:262–266. doi:10.1017/S0030605300024662
Ogden R, Baird J, Senn H, McEwing R (2012) The use of cross-species genome-wide arrays to discover SNP markers for conservation genetics: a case study from Arabian and scimitar-horned oryx. Conserv Genet Resour 1–3. doi:10.1007/s12686-011-9577-2
Raymond M, Rousset F (1995) GENEPOP (version 1.2): population genetics software for exact tests and ecumenicism. J Hered 86(3):248–249
Rice WR (1989) Analyzing tables of statistical tests. Evolution 43(1):223–225
Russello MA, Amato G (2007) On the horns of a dilemma: molecular approaches refine ex situ conservation in crisis. Mol Ecol 16(12):2405–2406. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03376.x
Sunnucks P (2000) Efficient genetic markers for population biology. Trends Ecol Evol 15(5):199–203. doi:10.1016/S0169-5347(00)01825-5
Zenger KR, Eldridge MDB, Pope LC, Cooper DW (2003) Characterisation and cross-species utility of microsatellite markers within kangaroos, wallabies and rat kangaroos (Macropodoidea: Marsupialia). Aust J Zool 51:587–596. doi:10.1071/ZO03020
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the staff from Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Monarto Zoo and R. Ainsworth for their involvement in this project. Thank you also to R. Wilkins who managed the captive oryx population for many years. The sequencing component of this study was supported by Bioplatforms Australia who are provided funding by the Australian Government.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Frankham, G.J., Hogg, C., Gillespie, J. et al. Characterisation of 16 microsatellite markers via 454 sequencing, to aid ex-situ conservation of the scimitar-horned oryx, Oryx dammah . Conservation Genet Resour 5, 795–797 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-013-9910-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-013-9910-z