Development of thirty-four novel polymorphic microsatellite markers in Coilia ectenes (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae) and cross-species amplification in two closely related taxa

Abstract

Coilia ectenes is an important commercial fisheries species, and its production has declined dramatically in recent years. It is necessary to investigate the microsatellite genetic information for further resource conservation and development of management strategies of this species. In this study, we developed 34 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers isolated from C. ectenes using the combined biotin capture method. The polymorphism of each locus was further assessed in 30 individuals from Dandong, Yalujiang river estuary, China. A total of 325 alleles were detected. The numbers of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 23. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.14 to 1.00 and from 0.54 to 0.91, respectively. Ten loci deviated significantly from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and no linkage disequilibrium (LD) between pairs of loci was found after Bonferroni correction. In addition, cross-species amplification was performed in two closely related taxa of C. ectenes, i.e., C. mystus and C. e. taihuensis, to assess the efficiency of these markers. These polymorphic microsatellites will provide useful tools for the study of genetic diversity and population structure of genus Coilia. This knowledge will help the development of sustainable fishing strategies to protect and recover these important resources. As a small to moderate size anchovy in the family Engraulidae, order Clupeiformes, Coilia ectenes (Jordan and Seale 1905) is mainly distributed in the northwest and western Pacific, extending southward towards Canton in southern China and northward to the Ariake Sound of southwestern