Abstract
Squalidus argentatus (Sauvage and Dabry de Thiersant 1874) is a small-sized freshwater fish which is distributed in Mainland China, Hainan Island and Taiwan. The populations of S. argentatus have dropped sharply probably due to overharvesting and water pollution recently. Eleven polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for the cyprinid fish S. argentatus. These new markers were tested on 43 individuals collected from Yangtze River and Qiantang River. The number of alleles, observed and expected heterozygosity per locus, in two populations ranged from 3 to 14, from 0.333 to 0.954 and from 0.480 to 0.928, respectively. Only two loci are significantly deviated from Hardy–Weinberg expectations due to the heterozygote deficiency. No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected between the pairwise comparisons of these loci. These polymorphic microsatellite loci will enable us to study the genetic variation, population structure, and conservation genetics of this species in the future.
Highlights
Genus Squalidus argentatus (Sauvage and Dabry de Thiersant 1874) (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae) consists of a group of small-sized freshwater fishes widely found in the lower or middle reaches of Eastern Asia, including Mainland China, Hainan Island and Taiwan
We developed 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci isolated using PCR-based isolation of microsatellite arrays (PIMA) of Squalidus argentatus
A total of 43 Squalidus argentatus, including from Yangtze River and from Qiantang River, were collected and their levels of genetic diversity were estimated by 11 microsatellite loci
Summary
Genus Squalidus argentatus (Sauvage and Dabry de Thiersant 1874) (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae) consists of a group of small-sized freshwater fishes widely found in the lower or middle reaches of Eastern Asia, including Mainland China, Hainan Island and Taiwan. In order to develop effective strategies for fishery management and conservation, information, such as the population genetic structure and genetic diversity and divergence of S. argentatus, is important. DNA-based genetic analyses can yield valuable information for assessing levels of variation and population genetic structure in freshwater fishes. Because of their high level of polymorphism and co-dominant inheritance in Mendelian fashion, microsatellites have been widely used as DNA markers in the studies of population structure and conservation genetics of freshwater fishes [3]. The microsatellite markers identified will allow the undertaking of further genetic studies on S. argentatus and provide valuable genetic information to assist the management and culture of this resource
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