Isolation and Characterization of 15 Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci for the Barau's Petrel (Pterodroma baraui), an Endangered Endemic of Réunion Island (Indian Ocean)

Abstract

Fifteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from the endangered Barau’s Petrel (Pterodroma baraui), endemic to Reunion Island, Indian Ocean, France, facilitating population studies for conservation. In 148 samples from two colonies, the total number of alleles per loci ranged from three to eight, observed heterozygosity ranged between 0.11 and 0.86, and null allele frequency ranged between 0.000 and 0.093. An observed similarity in annealing temperatures across loci and the wide range of fragment sizes facilitated polymerase chain reaction multiplexing and rapid multilocus genotyping. These results will enable further investigation into the genetic diversity, effective population size, and small-scale geographical relationships among populations of this endangered species, encouraging additional conservation initiatives. Received 24 May 2016, accepted 19 August 2016.