Cross-species amplification of microsatellite markers in the invasive spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus): assessment and application
Abstract
The North American spiny-cheek crayfish, Orconectes limosus, endangered in its native range, is a widespread invasive species in European waters and conservationally important carrier of crayfish plague. We tested cross-species transfer of microsatellite loci to spiny-cheek crayfish from five other crayfish species.
Variability of ten successfully amplifying loci derived from four species was then tested in 60 individuals of O. limosus originating from three natural populations: river Danube at Bogyiszló in Hungary and Starý Klíčov and Černovický brook in Czech Republic. The allele richness within populations ranged from four to 10 alleles per locus, the heterozygosity levels varied from 0.650 to 0.900 for Ho and from 0.660 to 0.890 for He.
No linkage disequilibrium or occurrence of null alleles was detected. Selected markers are useful for assessing population structure, intraspecific variation, and paternity studies in spiny-cheek crayfish.