Repetitive flanking sequences challenge microsatellite marker development: a case study in the lepidopteran Melanargia galathea.

Microsatellite DNA families (MDF) are stretches of DNA that share similar or identical sequences beside nuclear simple-sequence repeat (nSSR) motifs, potentially causing problems during nSSR marker development. Primers positioned within MDFs can bind several times within the genome and might result in multiple banding patterns. It is therefore common practice to exclude MDF loci in the course of marker development.

Cost-effective, species-specific microsatellite development for the endangered Dwarf Bulrush (Typha minima) using next-generation sequencing technology.

The dwarf bulrush (Typha minima Funck ex Hoppe) is an endangered pioneer plant species of riparian flood plains. In Switzerland, only 3 natural populations remain, but reintroductions are planned. To identify suitable source populations for reintroductions, we developed 17 polymorphic microsatellite markers with perfect repeats using the 454 pyrosequencing technique and tested them on 20 individuals with low-cost M13 labeling.

Microsatellites reveal substantial among-population genetic differentiation and strong inbreeding in the relict fern Dryopteris aemula.

Background And Aims: A previous study detected no allozyme diversity in Iberian populations of the buckler-fern Dryopteris aemula. The use of a more sensitive marker, such as microsatellites, was thus needed to reveal the genetic diversity, breeding system and spatial genetic structure of this species in natural populations.

Methods: Eight microsatellite loci for D.

S-allele diversity suggests no mate limitation in small populations of a self-incompatible plant.

Small populations of self-incompatible plants are assumed to be threatened by a limitation of compatible mating partners due to low genetic diversity at the self-incompatibility (S) locus. In contrast, we show by using a PCR-RFLP approach for S-genotype identification that 15 small populations (N = 8-88) of the rare wild pear (Pyrus pyraster) displayed no mate limitation. S-allele diversity within populations was high (N = 9-21) as was mate availability (92.

Landscape-level gene flow in Lobaria pulmonaria, an epiphytic lichen.

Epiphytes are strongly affected by the population dynamics of their host trees. Owing to the spatio-temporal dynamics of host tree populations, substantial dispersal rates--corresponding to high levels of gene flow--are needed for populations to persist in a landscape. However, several epiphytic lichens have been suggested to be dispersal-limited, which leads to the expectation of low gene flow at the landscape scale.

Quantifying dispersal and establishment limitation in a population of an epiphytic lichen.

Dispersal is a process critical for the dynamics and persistence of metapopulations, but it is difficult to quantify. It has been suggested that the old-forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria is limited by insufficient dispersal ability. We analyzed 240 DNA extracts derived from snow samples by a L.