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Identification of co‐occurring Branchinecta fairy shrimp species from encysted embryos using multiplex polymerase chain reaction
Author(s) -
VANDERGAST A. G.,
WOOD D. A.,
SIMOVICH M.,
BOHONAK A. J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
molecular ecology resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.96
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1755-0998
pISSN - 1755-098X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02522.x
Subject(s) - shrimp , biology , threatened species , multiplex polymerase chain reaction , polymerase chain reaction , population , identification (biology) , habitat , multiplex , zoology , ecology , fishery , genetics , gene , demography , sociology
Morphological identification of many fairy shrimp species is difficult because distinguishing characters are restricted to adults. We developed two multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays that differentiate among three Branchinecta fairy shrimp with distributional overlap in southern California vernal pools. Two of the species are federally listed as threatened. Molecular identification of Branchinecta from cysts allows for species surveys to be conducted during the dry season, expanding the timeframe for population assessment and providing a less intrusive method of sampling sensitive vernal pool habitats.