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Published on: October 5, 2017
Identification of co-occurring Branchinecta fairy shrimp species from encysted embryos using multiplex polymerase
A G Vandergast1, D A Wood, M Simovich
1US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego Field Station, 4165 Spruance Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92101, USA University of San Diego, Department of Biology, 5998 Alacala Park, San Diego, CA 92110, USA San Diego State University, Department of Biology, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA.
Abstract:
Morphological identification of many fairy shrimp species is difficult because distinguishing characters are restricted to adults. We developed two multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays that differentiate among three Branchinecta fairy shrimp with distributional overlap in southern California vernal pools. Two of the species are federally listed as threatened. Molecular identification of Branchinecta from cysts allows for species surveys to be conducted during the dry season, expanding the timeframe for population assessment and providing a less intrusive method of sampling sensitive vernal pool habitats.
