Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers for the Litoria ewingii complex and their use in conservation and hybridization studies

Abstract

Eight polymorphic microsatellite loci were identified in the Australian tree frog, Litoria ewingii, for studying patterns of hybridization with the closely related species L. paraewingi, using a microsatellite enriched genomic library. Across 55 individuals of L. ewingii and L. paraewingi, the mean number of alleles per locus was Na=9.38 and Na=7.13, respectively. All loci successfully cross-amplified in the remaining species in the Litoria ewingii complex, including the threatened sub-species L. verreauxii alpina. These loci will be useful in resolving species boundaries and exploring hybridization between species in the Litoria ewingii complex.