Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in tree lizards (Urosaurus ornatus)

Tree lizards (Urosaurus ornatus) are a highly accessible species useful in testing theories of life-history evolution and behavioural ecology. A polymerase chain reaction-based method was used to isolate nine polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci from the genome of these lizards. The isolated loci displayed 5 to 9 alleles in the populations screened. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.333 to 0.900. Results indicate these loci now provide a basis to study mate choice, parentage, and population genetic structure within this species.