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Reverse ascertainment bias in microsatellite allelic diversity in owls (Aves, Strigiformes)

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Abstract

A rich source of markers may be overlooked by screening for polymorphism in the source species only. We screened 129 microsatellite loci isolated from the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) against two closely related species; Ninox connivens and Ninox novaeseelandiae. From the screening effort 20 polymorphic markers were isolated, including six loci which were originally discarded as they were monomorphic in the source species. Further cross-species amplification of all 20 loci across species from two families, Strigidae and Tytonidae, revealed unusually high levels of polymorphism within closely related species, and limited success within phylogenetically distant species. Routine screening of multiple species during the marker development phase can yield a wider range of polymorphic markers which can subsequently enhance cross-species amplification attempts.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by NSW State Forests, Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund and Birds Australia. Rod Kavanagh and Matthew Stanton are thanked for providing DNA samples. The authors would also like to thank the Ian Potter Foundation and Amersham Biosciences for their generous support in establishing the molecular facilities at Museum Victoria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia

    Fiona E. Hogan & Raylene Cooke

  2. Sciences Department, Population & Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia

    Fiona E. Hogan & Janette A. Norman

  3. Department of Genetics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia

    Janette A. Norman

Authors
  1. Fiona E. Hogan
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  2. Raylene Cooke
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  3. Janette A. Norman
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Correspondence to Fiona E. Hogan.

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Hogan, F.E., Cooke, R. & Norman, J.A. Reverse ascertainment bias in microsatellite allelic diversity in owls (Aves, Strigiformes). Conserv Genet 10, 635–638 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-008-9595-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-008-9595-0

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