Ten polymorphic microsatellite markers for the endangered Australian Eastern Bristlebird, Dasyornis brachypterus

Abstract

The Eastern Bristlebird, Dasyornis brachypterus, is an endangered species occurring in a limited number of locations in eastern Australia. Over its distribution, D. brachypterus is confronted by continuing loss and fragmentation of its habitat and catastrophic fire events. To aid the development of a long-term plan for the protection and management of D. brachypterus, we developed ten polymorphic microsatellite markers to characterise levels of genetic diversity and the degree of population subdivision of remnant populations. Genotyping a small number of birds (n = 25) revealed between 6 and 11 alleles per locus, high expected heterozygosity (range = 0.72–0.89), and a fit to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium for nine of ten loci. This set of microsatellite markers provides the capacity for genetic research to be incorporated in a recovery plan for D. brachypterus, including informing managers of the scale over which translocation or supplementation should be conducted.