Cross-species Amplification of Microsatellite Markers in the Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus, Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus and Snowy Owl B. scandiacus for Use in Population Genetics, Individual Identification and Parentage Studies

Abstract

Using DNA from blood and feathers, we screened twenty-four microsatellite primer pairs initially developed for six strigid owls, and four primer pairs shown to be polymorphic across avian taxa, for their utility in the Great Horned Owl. Bubo virginianus, Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus and Snowy Owl B. scandiacus. Eight of these primers reliably amplified polymorphic fragments in the Great Horned Owl, eleven in the Short-eared owl, and ten in the Snowy Owl. Analyses of results from presumably unrelated owls demonstrate the utility of these loci for individual identification, parentage assignment, and population genetics studies.