Development and characterization of thirteen novel microsatellite markers for use in Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus), with cross-amplification in Pacific sleeper sharks (Somniosus pacificus)

Objective The objectives of this research are to isolate, develop and characterize polymorphic microsatellite markers for use in Greenland sharks ( Somniosus microcephalus ). Despite utility in population analyses, microsatellite markers have not been previously developed for this species. Development of these markers, and successful amplification in closely related Pacific sleeper sharks ( S. pacificus ), will facilitate research in the genetic variation of contemporary and future populations of sleeper shark species. Results Thirteen microsatellite loci were successfully amplified and yielded multi-locus genotypes for 32 S. microcephalus individuals from Grise Fjord (n = 16) and Svalbard (n = 20). Each locus yielded between 2 to 9 alleles and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.11 to 0.70 when estimated across both sites. One locus and three loci deviated from HWE following Bonferroni correction, for individuals sampled from Grise Fjord and Svalbard, respectively. Cross-amplification was successful at every locus for five of the ten S. pacificus individuals.