Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the fish Coilia mystus (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae) using PCR-based isolation of microsatellite arrays.

Coilia mystus is the most important harvested fish species in China; it inhabits quite different water environments during the different life history stages. Populations of C. mystus have dropped sharply due to overharvesting and water pollution. We developed eight microsatellite loci in C. mystus for conservation genetics studies. These new markers were tested in 20 individuals from the Min River in ChangLe. The number of alleles ranged from 3 to 8, the expected heterozygosity from 0.621 to 0.853 and the observed heterozygosity from 0.473-0.800. Only two loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg expectations due to heterozygote deficiency. These primers may provide a tool for understanding demography and population structure of this economically important and threatened species.