SREL Reprint #2839

Development and optimization of microsatellite DNA primers for boreal owls (Aegolius funereus)

Marni E. Koopman1, Nancy A. Schable2,3, and Travis C. Glenn2,3

1Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071-3971
2 Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC, USA
3 Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

Abstract: We developed 22 microsatellite loci for boreal owls (Aegolius funereus). We genotyped 275 unrelated boreal owls (Aegolius f. richardsoni) and 36 unrelated Tengmalm's owls (Aegolius f. funereus) using seven loci that were polymorphic and did not have detectable null alleles. Among North American and Scandinavian boreal owls, respectively, allelic diversity ranged from three to 11 alleles and from one to 11 alleles, observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.31 to 0.80 and from 0.00 to 0.81, and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.28 to 0.81 and from 0.00 to 0.81. These markers appeared to amplify DNA in six other Strigidae species.

Keywords: Aegolius, boreal owl, cross-specific amplification, microsatellites, null alleles, Tengmalm's owl, Strigidae

SREL Reprint #2839

Koopman, M. E., N. A. Schable, and T. C. Glenn. 2004. Development and optimization of microsatellite DNA primers for boreal owls (Aegolius funereus). Molecular Ecology Notes 4:376-378.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).