Capturing genetic information using non-target species markers in a species that has undergone a population crash
Carlo Pacioni A and Peter B. S. Spencer B CA School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
B School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: P.Spencer@murdoch.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 32(1) 33-38 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM09018
Submitted: 16 July 2009 Accepted: 1 December 2009 Published: 17 March 2010
Abstract
Species conservation has relied on the enormous potential of information that arises from field, laboratory and other tools. When using molecular-based tools, the technology involves a considerable effort to develop, both in resources and time. A long-held practice has been to utilise pre-existing primers developed for other closely related species to evaluate conservation questions. In this study, we present a practical approach on how to utilise pre-existing microsatellite markers in bettong and potoroo species. This information is relevant before, during and after a species crash and the approach we describe could be particularly appropriate when there is an immediate need to retrieve a knowledge-base in order to support management decisions. We determined that cross-species amplification success of microsatellite markers is inversely related to evolutionary distance of the source species although their polymorphism is not. A ‘priority-list’ of potential markers for potoroids is given for future conservation genetic studies.
Additional keywords: Bettongia penicillata, cross-species amplification, macropodid, microsatellite, population crash, potoroid.
Acknowledgements
We are extremely grateful to Dr Adrian Wayne for his support. We also thank staff of the Department of Environment and Conservation, Australian Wildlife Conservancy and Department of Environment and Heritage, South Australia, for sample collection. We are grateful to Mark Eldridge for unpublished Petrogale sequences, and to M. Bunce, E. McLay, and N. White, Murdoch University, for their help and useful advice. This project was supported by the Australian Academy of Science, South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc., DEC Woylie Conservation and Research Project (Save Our Species), DEC Science Division (Ph.D. Student Stipend).
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