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Published on: March 13, 2011
Twenty-two polymorphic microsatellite loci aimed at detecting illegal trade in the Cape parrot, Poicephalus robustus
Kerusha Pillay1, Deborah A Dawson, Gavin J Horsburgh
1Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
Abstract:
Twenty-two polymorphic microsatellite loci were characterized in the Cape parrot, Poicephalus robustus. Nineteen loci were newly isolated from two Cape parrot genomic libraries, and three loci isolated from other parrot species. Loci were characterized in 40 unrelated captive Cape parrots held by aviculturalists. The loci displayed between two and 24 alleles, with the observed heterozygosities ranging between 0.10 and 0.94. This locus set is suitable for identifying clarifying parentage (parentage exclusion probabilities of P(E1) = 0.0004 and P(E2) = 0.000001). Candidate parents for any Cape parrot individual can now be genotyped to distinguish between individuals, which are truly captive bred and those suspected of being wild-caught birds. Cross-species analysis found up to 31 loci to be polymorphic across 24 additional parrot species tested.
