Development of 38 microsatellite loci from the Arceye hawkfish, Paracirrhites arcatus, using next-generation sequencing and cross-amplification in other Cirrhitid species

The Arceye hawkfish, Paracirrhites arcatus, exhibits two distinct color morphotypes found sympatrically throughout the Indo-Pacific. To provide tools for addressing evolutionary and management questions, we used 454 sequencing to construct a microsatellite-enriched genomic library for both P. arcatus morphotypes. Thirty-eight polymorphic microsatellites were isolated and characterized. We found a mean of 10.47 and 10.94 alleles per locus and observed levels of heterozygosity from 0.208–0.958 to 0.333–1.000 for the pink-white-striped and melanistic morphotypes, respectively. Most loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium expectations with no significant evidence of null alleles or linkage disequilibrium. Five multiplex PCR panels were designed and optimized. Most loci reliably amplified when cross-tested with Paracirrhites forsteri and Cirrhitus pinnulatus. We expect these markers to be useful tools for these species and potentially related taxa.