Microsatellite primers for the Eurasian otter

• Published in: Molecular ecology Vol. 7; no. 9; pp. 1248 - 1251
• Main Authors: Dallas, J F, Piertney, S B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-09-1998
• Subjects: Alleles; Animals; Base Sequence; Blotting, Southern - veterinary; DNA - chemistry; DNA Primers - chemistry; DNA Restriction Enzymes - chemistry; Eels - genetics; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel - veterinary; Europe; Feces - chemistry; Gene Library; Lutra lutra; Male; Microsatellite Repeats - genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Otters - genetics; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Salmon - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA - veterinary; Europe
• ISSN: 0962-1083

The Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra, displays great differences in density, habitat and behaviour throughout its range (Kruuk 1995), and is a focus of conservation effort following rapid population declines in the mid-1950s (Strachan & Jefferies 1996). Similarly, most otter species are of biological interest and are important targets for conservation (Foster-Turley et al. 1990). However, even basic information such as numbers present is difficult to obtain because otters are rarely observed, and are very difficult to trap, mark and recapture. As an alternative, we are developing methods for individual identification using DNA profiles derived from otter scats. Here, we describe primers for 13 highly polymorphic microsatellites in L. lutra. These markers are also polymorphic in between one and six other otter species, but not in other carnivore species, and are not detectable in two common prey species.