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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Laboratory Protocol for Genetic Gut Content Analyses of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Using Group-specific rDNA Primers
Published on: October 5, 2017
Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite loci for the marine invader Microcosmus squamiger (Ascidiacea)
Marc Rius1, Xavier Turon, Marta Pascual
1Departament de Biologia Animal, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain, Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB, CSIC), Accés a la Cala S. Francesc 14, 17300 Blanes (Girona), Spain, Departament de Genètica, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract:
The ascidian Microcosmus squamiger is native to Australia and has recently spread worldwide. It has become a pest in some littoral communities within its introduced range. An enriched genomic library of M. squamiger resulted in a total of eight polymorphic loci that were genotyped in 20 individuals from a population within its introduced range, and 20 individuals more from a native population. The mean number of alleles per locus was 5.33 and mean observed heterozygosity was 0.432. No significant linkage disequilibrium was found among loci pairs. Significant genetic differentiation was observed between populations.
