Seven polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci from the red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)

We describe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers and amplification conditions for seven microsatellite DNA loci isolated from the red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens). Primers were tested on 16 individuals from two populations on the Savannah River Site in Aiken County, South Carolina. We detected six to 10 alleles per locus and an overall observed heterozygosity range of 0.31-0.81. Despite low heterozygosity at two of the seven loci, the high polymorphic information contents (from 0.54 to 0.85) of these markers render them useful for future studies of the behavioural and population ecology of this common salamander.