Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers for Temminck's Tragopan (Tragopan temminckii)

The habitat of Temminck's Tragopan (Tragopan temminckii), a threatened species in China, has undergone severe fragmentation. Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated from Temminck's Tragopan. Polymorphism was studied using 24 individuals collected from the wild. All the loci were polymorphic with number of alleles ranging from 6 to 21 and observed heterozygosity 0.38-0.83. These primers will be useful in studying gene flow between patches of Temminck's Tragopan habitat and the level of genetic diversity in isolated patches.