Specificity and sensitivity of microsatellite markers for the identification of larvae

The identification of larval marine invertebrates to species or even higher taxonomic levels by morphological examination is notoriously difficult. Many diagnostic features are absent or poorly formed at early stages in development. This is particularly true for the larvae of bivalve molluscs, for which a routine and accurate method of identification would prove valuable to both ecologists and fishery managers. A simple molecular genetic method to identify specifically larvae of the European oyster, Ostrea edulis L., 1758, is presented. The test is based on PCR amplification of highly species-specific microsatellite loci and is sensitive enough to register the presence of a single larval individual (similar to 200 mum width) in a mixed sample of 20 mg wet weight plankton (approximately 250 larval animals). This work demonstrates that microsatellite loci can be used as highly sensitive and specific taxonomic indicators, for studies of planktonic larvae. Details of three novel microsatellite loci are also given for O. edulis, increasing the suite of molecular tools available for use in population genetic studies of this commercially important species.