Characterization of microsatellite loci in the endangered St. Vincent Parrot, Amazona guildingii

Microsatellite loci were isolated within the St Vincent parrot (Amazona guildingii), an endangered island endemic, from a GT(n) enriched genomic library. Nine polymorphic loci were characterized varying from two to nine alleles per locus. Seven loci exhibited levels of heterozygosity ranging from 39 to 100% within the 28 individuals genotyped. Furthermore, the primers were demonstrated to cross-amplify within four genera of Neotropical parrots, indicating the potential utility of these markers to further population-level studies and conservation efforts of New World Psittacines.