Nine microsatellite markers for the Australian side-necked turtle Chelodina expansa (Chelidae) and cross species amplifications

Abstract

ine microsatellite DNA loci for the Australian broad-shelled freshwater turtle (Chelodina expansa) are presented. Markers were tailed with 20-mer oligonucleotides for use in four-colour fluorescent multiplex PCRs. The markers show high allelic richness (mean N(A)=10.9, range 2-38) and expected heretozygosity (mean H(E)=0.643; range 0.161-0.963) indicating that they will be valuable for population genetics studies in C. expansa. Cross-species amplification in three Australian freshwater turtle species further highlights the potential utility of these markers, particularly in the side-neck species C. longicollis and C. rugosa.