Microsatellite development for a tetrodotoxin-containing sea slug (Pleurobranchaea maculata)

Using 454 pyrosequencing data, 24 polymorphic microsatellite markers were identified for the grey side-gilled sea slug, Pleurobranchaea maculata. The grey side-gilled sea slug is found throughout the western and south Pacific and is known to contain high concentrations of tetrodotoxin. Polymorphism was assessed in 20 individuals obtained from geographically distinct locations within New Zealand. Between 2 and 15 alleles were identified at each locus. The observed heterozygosity (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.10 to 1 and 0.10-0.94, respectively. No significant linkage disequilibrium between pairs of loci or deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg proportions were observed. The markers are central to understanding the population biology and genetic structure of P. maculata.