Isolation and characterization of eighteen microsatellite loci for the largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, and cross amplification in congeneric species

We used a PCR-based technique to isolate 18 microsatellite loci for the largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides. These loci were characterized using sampled populations in Florida and Wisconsin. The mean number of alleles at a locus was 8 for the sample from Florida and 5 for the samples from Wisconsin. The observed heterozygosities were 0.57 and 0.33 for the samples from Florida and Wisconsin, respectively. There was evidence of genetic differentiation between the Florida and Wisconsin samples at all 18 loci, indicating spatial structure within the range of M. salmoides. The markers cross-amplified in the seven other micropterid species, which suggests they would have utility for studies of hybridization among other members of the genus.