Characterization of 10 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the purple martin, Progne subis

Abstract

The purple martin is a large North American swallow that suffered a severe population crash in the 20th century due to nesting competition from invasive species. We screened an enriched DNA library for microsatellites from purple martins (Progne subis subis). Ten loci consistently amplified and were polymorphic with an allele range of 2-19 and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.31 to 0.93. Two loci are sex-linked, and two additional loci failed to meet Hardy-Weinberg expectations likely due to the presence of null alleles. These polymorphic microsatellite loci can be used for studies of genetic diversity, population structure, and relatedness, all of which have been suggested to determine the impact of substantial regional declines in population density.

Population structure, patterns of natal dispersal and demographic history in a declining aerial insectivore, the purple martin Progne subis

“…Baker et al (2008) addressed genetic diversity in a vulnerable British Columbia population, and found a high level of gene flow within western P. s. arboricola populations but with some mixing via rare P. s. subis migrants from the east. Microsatellite markers have also been characterized in a P. s. subis population in Virginia, presenting highly polymorphic loci to measure genetic variation and assess paternity (Stanley et al 2011). While mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites can help us understand genetic patterns in a species, these markers represent a small portion of the genome and exclude large portions of the genome that may contribute to population structure and demographic history.…”