Isolation and characterization of sixteen polymorphic microsatellite loci in the Western Spadefoot, Pelobates cultripes (Anura: Pelobatidae) via 454 pyrosequencing

The Western Spadefoot, Pelobates cultripes (Anura, Pelobatidae), is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and southeastern France, with isolated populations in the Atlantic coast of France. Its populations are fragmented and it is considered Near Threatened by the IUCN. Here we describe the development of sixteen polymorphic microsatellite loci in this species. Polymorphism was assessed in 95 individuals from five Iberian populations. The number of alleles and expected heterozygosity ranged from 3 to 14 and 0.20 to 0.76, respectively. Eight loci cross-amplified in the closely related and Endangered Moroccan Spadefoot toad, Pelobates varaldii. These markers will be useful to address questions about the ecology, population genetics and evolutionary history of P. cultripes, including information on effective population size, habitat use and dispersal patterns, which are essential for the efficient management of the fragmented populations characteristic of most of its range.