The effectiveness of microsatellite DNA as a genetic tool in crocodilian conservation
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TECHNICAL REVIEW
The effectiveness of microsatellite DNA as a genetic tool in crocodilian conservation Gaurav Vashistha1 · Sharma Deepika1,2 · Parag Madhukar Dhakate3 · Faiyaz A. Khudsar4 · David Kothamasi1 Received: 5 October 2019 / Accepted: 3 August 2020 © Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract Microsatellite DNA is among the several molecular tools used for determining genetic variability and inbreeding depression in threatened populations. It has been used extensively for population genetics studies in conservation of crocodilians. Even though single nucleotide polymorphisms have higher precision compared to microsatellite DNA markers, microsatellites offer a cost advantage which is particularly important to researchers in the global south. Here, we review the role of microsatellite DNA as a conservation tool in crocodilians. Employing appropriate keywords in three online databases, we studied 78 publications, where microsatellite DNA had been used to study crocodilian species. We found that 504 species-specific markers were designed for 13, out of a total of 24 crocodilian taxa. Genus Crocodylus had the highest number of speciesspecific markers and was the most studied taxa using microsatellites. Moreover, microsatellite markers developed for C. porosus were successful in cross amplification of microsatellite markers in 19 other crocodilian species. Microsatellite based studies had highest focus on analyses of multiple populations of a single species. Based on our review of microsatellite based studies on populations of crocodilian species, we recommend that microsatellite DNA markers are an effective conservation tool that can provide critical information on population structures of threatened crocodilian species. Keywords Crocodile conservation · Gharial · Mating · Microsatellite DNA · Paternity · Species-specific molecular marker
Introduction Conservation genetics is in a transitional phase, shifting from microsatellite DNA markers to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). While SNPs offer greater precision compared to microsatellites, SNPs are less cost-effective Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-020-01164-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Sharma Deepika [email protected] 1
Laboratory of Soil Biology and Microbial Ecology, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
2
Department of Botany, Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110 002, India
3
Conservator of Forests, Western Circle, Haldwani, Uttarakhand 263 139, India
4
Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
(Puckett 2017). Moreover, microsatellite DNA markers tend to allow researchers to address similar questions, with reasonable resolution and at a substantially lower cost (Shafer et al. 2015). Although costs (of SNPs) are expected to come down, monetary cost of mark
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