Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci for Florida largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides floridanus, and other micropterids

DIJAR J. LUTZ-CARRILLO¹, CRIS HAGEN², LUCY A. DUECK², and TRAVIS C. GLENN²

¹A. E. Wood Laboratory, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 507 Staples Road, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
²Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA

Abstract: We isolated and characterized 52 novel microsatellite markers from Florida largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides floridanus, for use in conservation, management and population genetic studies. Markers were assessed in M. s. floridanus from peninsular Florida (n = 30) and averaged eight alleles per locus with observed heterozygosity of 0.57 (range 0–0.97). Cross-taxa amplification was successful among 88% of tested congeners. These polymorphic and potentially taxon-diagnostic markers contribute to the limited number of microsatellites currently available for micropterids and specifically M. s. floridanus.