Isolation and characterisation of microsatellite loci in the bush stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius), a declining Australian bird

Abstract

The bush stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius Latham), a ground-nesting nocturnal bird, is endangered in southern Australia due to habitat modification and introduced predators. To provide tools for conservation, ecological and behavioural studies, we isolated variable microsatellite repeat sequences and designed primers for PCR amplification in this species. Primer pairs were developed and levels of diversity were assessed for eight microsatellite loci, including one locus linked to the gene encoding Microtubule-Associated Protein 2, a protein important for behavioural imprinting in birds, and one sex-linked locus. Isolated loci contained allelic diversity of between 5 and 17 alleles.