Development of polymorphic microsatellite loci for North American river otters (<i>Lontra canadensis</i>) and amplification in related Mustelids

Abstract

Abstract In order to complement ecological research on native and reintroduced populations of the North American river otter ( Lontra canadensis ), we developed 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci that would permit us to evaluate population genetic structure and conduct fecal DNA analyses. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 14 and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.23 to 0.68. Preliminary screening revealed that primers were polymorphic in a subset of other Mustelids.