Microsatellites are a valuable tool in the analysis of population genetic structure. Utilising microsatellite markers that were originally isolated from other species (cross-species amplification) can prove an efficient way, in terms of time and cost, to obtain markers for genetic studies. Here, 55 avian microsatellite primer pairs were tested for the cross-amplification in the Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta). Thirty-five markers amplified, of which 22 were polymorphic, displaying two to nine alleles in the 15 individuals genotyped. The 35 markers which amplified in the Melodious Warbler were tested in its sister species the Icterine Warbler (H. icterina). Twenty-four markers were amplified, 14 of which were polymorphic in the five H. icterina individuals genotyped. Thirteen loci were polymorphic in both species. The polymorphic loci identified are suitable for analysing the genetic population structure and assigning parentage.
BourkeB., and DawsonD. A. (2006) Fifteen microsatellite loci characterised in the golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos (Accipitridae, AVES). Mol. Ecol. Notes, 6, 1047–1050.
2.
DawsonD. A., HorsburghG. J., KüpperC., StewartI. R. K., BallA. D., DurrantK. L., HanssonB., BaconI., BirdS., Kleiná., KrupaA. P., LeeJ.-W., Martín-GálvezD., SimeoniM., SmithG., SpurginL., and BurkeT. (2010) New methods to identify conserved microsatellite loci and develop primer sets of high cross-species utility–as demonstrated for birds. Mol. Ecol. Res., 10, 475–494.
3.
DuckworthR. A. (2009) Maternal effects and range expansion, a key factor in a dynamic process?Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B., 364, 1075–1086.
4.
DurrantK. L., DawsonD. A., BurkeT., and BirkheadT. R. (2010) The unusual sperm morphology of the Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) is not due to the phenotypic result of genetic reduction. Auk, 127, 832–840.
5.
ElleO., TwietmeyerS., LemkeH., EnglerJ., and RoderusD. (2009) Gibt es eine spezifisch periphere Arealdynamik? Konzeption und erste Ergebnisse einer Studie an südwestdeutschen Orpheusspöttern Hippolais polyglotta. Vogelwarte, 47, 312–313.
6.
EnglerJ. O., RödderD., ElleO., HochkirchA., and SecondiJ. (2013) Species distribution models contribute to determine the effect of climate and interspecific interactions in moving hybrid zones. J. Evol. Biol., 26, 2487–2496.
7.
FaivreB., SecondiJ., FrochotB., and CézillyF. (2002) Local survival and breeding ecology in an expanding population of Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta. Ardea, 90, 293–301.
8.
FreginS., HaaseM., OlssonU., and AlströmP. (2009) Multi-locus phylogeny of the family Acrocephalidae (Aves, Passeriformes)–The traditional taxonomy overthrown. Mol. Phyl. Evol., 52, 866–878.
9.
GarrowayC. J., BowmanJ., HollowayG. L., MalcolmJ. R., and WilsonP. J. (2011) The genetic signature of rapid range expansion by flying squirrels in response to contemporary climate warming. Glob. Chan. Biol., 17, 1760–1769.
10.
Glutz von BlotzheimU. N., and BauerK. M. (1991) Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas, Bd. 12-II Passeriformes (Teil 3) Sylviidae II, Grasmücken, Laubsänger, Goldhähnchen.Aula, Wiesbaden, Germany
11.
HanssonB., TarkaM., DawsonD. A., and HorsburghG. J. (2012) Hybridization but no evidence for backcrossing and introgressing in a sympatric population of great reed warblers and clamorous reed warblers. PLoS One, 7, e31667.
12.
HochkirchA., and DamerauM. (2009) Rapid range expansion of a wing-dimorphic bush-cricket after the 2003 climatic anomaly. Biol. J. Linn. Soc., 97, 118–127.
13.
Kleiná., HorsburghG. J., KüpperC., MajorA., LeeP. L. M., HoffmannG., MáticsR., and DawsonD. A. (2009) Microsatellite markers characterized in the barn owl (Tyto alba) and of high utility in other owls (Strigiformes, AVES). Mol. Ecol. Res., 9, 1512–1519.
14.
LeeJ.-W., JangB. S., DawsonD. A., BurkeT., and HatchwellB. J. (2009) Fine-scale genetic structure and its consequence in breeding aggregations of a passerine bird. Mol. Ecol., 18, 2728–2739.
15.
LifjeldJ. T., MarthinsenG., MyklebustM., DawsonD. A., and JohnsenA. (2010) A wild Marsh Warbler × Sedge Warbler hybrid (Acrocephalus palustris × A. schoenobaenus) in Norway documented with molecular markers. J. Avian. Biol., 151, 513–517.
16.
Martín-GálvezD., DawsonD. A., HorsburghG. J., and BurkeT. (2009) Isolation, characterization and chromosome locations of polymorphic black-billed magpie Pica pica (Corvidae, AVES) microsatellite loci. Mol. Ecol. Res., 9, 1506–1512.
17.
MukeshT., RaiI. D., MandhanR. P., and SathyakumarS. (2011) A panel of polymorphic microsatellite markers in Himalayan monal Lophophorus impejanus developed by cross-species amplification and their applicability in other Galliformes. Eur. J. Wildlife Res., 57, 983–989.
18.
PeakallR., and SmouseP. E. (2006) GENALEX 6, genetic analysis in Excel. Population genetic software for teaching and research. Mol. Ecol. Notes, 6, 288–295.
19.
PrimmerC. R., MøllerA. P., and EllegrenH. (1996) A wide-range survey of cross-species microsatellite amplification in birds. Mol. Ecol., 5, 365–378.
20.
RichardsonD. S., JuryF. L., DawsonD. A., SalgueiroP., KomdeurJ., and BurkeT. (2000) Fifty Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus seychellensis) microsatellite loci polymorphic in Sylviidae species and their cross-species amplification in other passerine birds. Mol. Ecol., 9, 2226–2231.
21.
SalmonaJ., DawsonD. A., FouillotD., GhestemmeT., ThebaudC., ChikhiL., and SalamolardM. (2010) The utility of existing passerine microsatellite markers for genetic studies in endangered species, as demonstrated for a critically endangered forest bird endemic to Réunion Island, the Réunion cuckooshrike (Coracina newtoni). Cons. Gen. Res., 2, 361–364.
22.
SambookJ., FritchE. F., and ManiatisT. (1987) Molecular cloning a laboratory manual, 2nd edn. Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press.
23.
SchulteS., VeithMM., MmingoV., MmodicaC., and HochkirchA. (2013) Strong genetic differentiation due to multiple founder effects during a range expansion of an introduced wall lizard population. Biol. Invasions doi: 10.1007/s10530-013-0480-5
24.
SecondiJ., FaivreB., and BenschS. (2006) Spreading introgression in the wake of a moving contact zone. Mol. Ecol., 15, 2463–2475.
25.
SimeoniM., DawsonD. A., RossD. J., ChâlineN., BurkeT., and HatchwellB. J. (2007) Characterization of 20 microsatellite loci in the long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus (Aegithalidae, AVES). Mol. Ecol. Notes, 7, 1319–1322.
26.
SimeoniM., DawsonD. A., GentleL., CoiffaitL., WolffK., EvansK. L., GastonK., and HatchwellB. J. (2009) Characterization of 38 microsatellite loci in the blackbird Turdus merula (Turdidae, AVES). Mol. Ecol. Res., 9, 1520–1526.
27.
VangestelC., MergeayJ., DawsonD. A., VandommeV., and LensL. (2011) Developmental stability covaries with genome-wide and single-locus heterozygosity in house sparrows. PLoS ONE, 6, e21569.
28.
van OosterhoutC., HutchinsonW. F., WillisD. P. M., and ShipleyP. (2004) MICROCHECKER, software for identifying and correcting genotyping errors in microsatellite data. Mol. Ecol. Notes, 4, 535–538.
