Expressed sequence tag-derived microsatellites for the cool-water marine copepod Calanus finmarchicus

The copepod Calanus finmarchicus is the major contributor to zooplankton biomass in the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea, but recent studies have shown a 70% decrease in abundance as well as a northward shift in the species' range. Insights into dispersal capabilities gained from population genetic studies will be crucial in predicting the response of C. finmarchicus communities to climate change and, consequently, we have developed a set of expressed sequence tag-derived microsatellite markers to allow fine-scale elucidation of population structuring and dispersal. Ten polymorphic markers displayed between two and 19 alleles, with levels of expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.044 to 0.924.

Development of microsatellites for the invasive riparian plant Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam) using intersimple sequence repeat cloning

Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam) is an invasive riparian plant species that can outcompete native perennials. Population genetic data on dispersal may aid in the management of invasive species, so we have developed microsatellite markers for this significant invader using an intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR)-based cloning method. Eight polymorphic markers displayed between two and five alleles, with overall levels of observed and expected heterozygosities ranging from 0.0500 to 0.7500 and from 0.1449 to 0.7692, respectively.