Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the redside dace, Clinostomus elongatus

Abstract

We isolated and characterized eight polymorphic microsatellite loci for redside dace (Clinostomus elongatus), a colorful North American cyprinid that is threatened or endangered throughout most of its range. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to eighteen, with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.31–0.92. Cross-amplification revealed that these markers will also be useful for examining closely related and more distantly related species, including the rosyside dace (Clinostomus funduloides), Lahontan redside shiner (Richardsonius egregius), hornyhead chub (Nocomis biguttatus), and central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum). These microsatellite loci will provide a valuable set of tools for examining fine and coarse scale population structure, exploring reproductive success, and testing outcomes of proposed conservation initiatives (e.g. captive breeding and translocation of wild individuals) for redside dace