Development and characterization of nine polymorphic microsatellite markers for the blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur)

Pseudois nayaur is a major component of Caprini and a keystone species in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ecosystems. Due to the excessive hunting and habitat loss, its numbers are being reduced drastically. We developed and characterized the first set of microsatellite markers in this species to investigate its population genetic diversity and structure. Nine polymorphic loci displayed an average of 5.73 alleles (range between 2 and 14) and the levels of expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.422 to 0.816. Cross-amplification within dwarf blue sheep was successful for the nine loci. The loci characterized here will be useful for detecting fine-scale spatial structuring and resolving the taxonomic status of divergent Pseudois populations.