Novel microsatellite markers for endangered Hepu mitten crab, Eriocheir hepuensis

The Hepu mitten crab (Eriocheir hepuensis) is an endangered freshwater crab found in the southern part of China. In this study, 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and population genetic parameters were evaluated in three populations of E. hepuensis sampled in 1998 and 2008. The average number of alleles per locus ranged from 6.3 to 8.4, while the average observed (H O) and expected (H E) heterozygosities were from 0.725 to 0.817 and from 0.756 to 0.780, respectively. The average polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.699 to 0.756. Significant genetic differentiation was observed for E. hepuensis in the current decade (from 1998 to 2008). This suite of microsatellite loci will facilitate future studies on population structure and genetic introgression of the endangered E. hepuensis.