Cross-species amplification of microsatellite loci for non-invasive genetic monitoring of the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus)

Abstract

Genetic analysis has shown to be an important and efficient method for monitoring species, but the lack of genetic markers constrains such monitoring for many species. Here, we cross-amplified microsatellite loci in the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) using primers previously characterized in other species. Among polymorphic loci, we selected 12 loci that amplified relatively short fragments (<250 base pairs) to facilitate genotyping of moulted feathers and other non-invasively collected samples. These 12 loci, and a sex-typing marker, were amplified in two multiplex PCR sets and used to screen 49 snowy owls from a northern European population. The number of alleles observed at single loci was 2 to 17. Expected and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.12 to 0.91 and from 0.12 to 0.96, respectively. The combined probability of identity for the 12 loci was 5.7 × 10−11. Our multiplex PCR assays are expected to be useful for genetic monitoring, parentage analysis, and population genetic studies of the snowy owl.