Development of microsatellite DNA loci from the wood stork (Aves, Ciconiidae, Mycteria americana)

We isolated 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci for wood stork ( Mycteria americana ). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers and conditions are described for the amplification of five dinucleotide, one trinucleotide and five tetranucleotide microsatellite loci. The PCR primers were tested on two wood stork populations, Fazenda Ipiranga, Mato Grosso, Brazil ( n = 11) and Tamiami West, Everglades, Florida, USA ( n = 20). The primers yielded two to four alleles per locus, an observed heterozygosity of 0.0–0.727 and a polymorphic information content of 0.048–0.604. The low level of polymorphism for these markers is consistent with previous studies of this species.