Isolation and characterization of 14 polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci for the endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana) and their applicability to other crane species

Kenneth L. Jones^1,4, Jessica R. Henkel^2,3, Jerome J. Howard³, Stacey L. Lance⁴,
Cris Hagen⁴, and Travis C. Glenn^1,4

¹Georgia Genomics Facility and the Department of Environmental Health Science,
University of Georgia, Riverbend North, Room 129, 110 Riverbend Rd., Athens, GA 30602, USA
²Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
³Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
⁴Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA

Abstract: Fourteen microsatellite DNA loci were isolated from the endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana) and genetic variability assessed from 45 captive reared individuals. Allele numbers detected at each locus ranged from 2 to 6, the highest seen for this species. Mean observed heterozygosity varied from 0.04 to 0.79. These markers were then successfully amplified for two nonmigratory populations of Sandhill Crane [Florida (Grus canadensis pratensis) and Missisippi (Grus canadensis pulla)], underscoring their utility for the conservation of threatened crane species.