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Isolation, characterization and cross amplification of eleven novel microsatellite loci for the hydrozoan coral Millepora

  • Microsatellite Letters
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Abstract

Milleporidae are of high ecological and economic importance, as, together with the scleractinian corals, they belong to the main reef builders of tropical coral reefs. Coral reefs face severe threats mainly due to anthropogenic disturbance. Understanding their population structure and dynamics is crucial for any conservation effort. Here we report the first microsatellite loci for the Milleporidae. Eleven polymorphic markers were developed for the hydrozoan corals Millepora dichotoma from the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) and tested for amplification in M. dichotoma from the Red Sea (Egypt), as well as for Millepora platyphylla from the Pacific Ocean (Moorea, French Polynesia). All loci were variable with 4–15 alleles per locus. Nine loci were transferable between geographic regions and species. These are the first microsatellites for hydrozoan corals. They will provide valuable tools for characterizing the population structure and genetic diversity of the group thereby benefitting coral reef conservation.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (TO 171/8-1). S. Striewski, L. Weiss and R. Sigl helped in the field. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority kindly gave us permission (PWS P105681) to sample Millepora dichotoma, and the Haut-Commissariat de la République en Polynésie française kindly issued permit No. FR1398700143-E to sample Millepora platyphylla.

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Author notes

  1. Jacqueline Heckenhauer

    Present address: Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1030, Vienna, Austria

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitaetsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany

    Jacqueline Heckenhauer, Maximilian Schweinsberg, Vasco Elbrecht, Ralph Tollrian & Kathrin P. Lampert

  2. Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Uwe John

Authors
  1. Jacqueline Heckenhauer
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  2. Maximilian Schweinsberg
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  3. Vasco Elbrecht
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  4. Uwe John
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  5. Ralph Tollrian
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  6. Kathrin P. Lampert
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathrin P. Lampert.

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Heckenhauer, J., Schweinsberg, M., Elbrecht, V. et al. Isolation, characterization and cross amplification of eleven novel microsatellite loci for the hydrozoan coral Millepora . Conservation Genet Resour 7, 215–217 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-014-0337-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-014-0337-y

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