Polymorphic microsatellite markers for studies of the conservation and reproductive genetics of imperilled sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus)

We report on the isolation of eight microsatellites from the sand tiger shark, Carcharias taurus, using an enrichment protocol. All loci, with the exception of Cta45-183, were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Loci exhibited three to 15 alleles, and observed and expected heterozygosities of 0.095-1.000 and 0.284-0.924, respectively. An additional marker (Iox-12) developed from a shortfin mako library was variable in sand tigers. These markers will be used to examine population genetics and mating patterns of this imperilled species.3 page(s