Abstract Microsatellites are valuable molecular markers for evolutionary and ecological studies. Next generation sequencing is responsible for the increasing number of microsatellites for non-model species. Penguins of the Pygoscelis genus are comprised of three species: Adélie (P. adeliae), Chinstrap (P. antarcticus) and Gentoo penguin (P. papua), all distributed around Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic. The species have been affected differently by climate change, and the use of microsatellite markers will be crucial to monitor population dynamics. We characterized a large set of genome-wide microsatellites and evaluated polymorphisms in all three species. SOLiD reads were generated from the libraries of each species, identifying a large amount of microsatellite loci: 33,677, 35,265 and 42,057 for P. adeliae, P. antarcticus and P. papua, respectively. A large number of dinucleotide (66,139), trinucleotide (29,490) and tetranucleotide (11,849) microsatellites are described. Microsatellite abundance, diversity and orthology were characterized in penguin genomes. We evaluated polymorphisms in 170 tetranucleotide loci, obtaining 34 polymorphic loci in at least one species and 15 polymorphic loci in all three species, which allow to perform comparative studies. Polymorphic markers presented here enable a number of ecological, population, individual identification, parentage and evolutionary studies of Pygoscelis, with potential use in other penguin species.

A razão sexual desigual pode levar à perda de variabilidade genética, diminuindo a viabilidade das populações em longo prazo. Atividades antrópicas causam alterações nos hábitats e podem causar mudanças na razão sexual e na morfologia de muitas espécies. A fragmentação florestal é uma grande preocupação em conservação e entender os seus efeitos em populações naturais é fundamental. Assim, neste estudo buscamos investigar a razão sexual e algumas características morfológicas do chupa-dente (Conopophaga lineata (Wied, 1831)) em fragmentos pequenos e grandes no Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. As aves (n = 89) foram sexadas através de características da plumagem e através de marcadores moleculares. Marcadores moleculares indicaram que a identificação por plumagem não é um método totalmente confiável para essa espécie. Observamos que a razão sexual não difere entre os fragmentos grandes e pequenos, mas os indivíduos dos fragmentos pequenos apresentaram asas e tarsos maiores. Modificações nas asas e tarsos podem causar alterações no deslocamento dos indivíduos dentro e entre os fragmentos. Portanto, os chupa-dentes têm sido capazes de sobreviver mesmo nos pequenos fragmentos de Mata Atlântica sem sofrer alterações na razão sexual. Porém, as diferenças morfológicas apresentadas podem ser prejudiciais para a sobrevivência da espécie a longo prazo.

Unequal sex ratios lead to the loss of genetic variability, decreasing the viability of populations in the long term. Anthropogenic activities often disturb the natural habitats and can cause alterations in sex ratio and morphological characteristics of several species. Forest fragmentation is a major conservation concern, so that understanding its effects in natural populations is essential. In this study, we evaluated the sex ratio and the morphological characteristics of Rufous Gnateaters (Conopophaga lineata (Wied, 1831)) in small and large forest fragments in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Birds (n = 89) were sexed by plumage characteristics and molecular markers. The molecular analysis showed that plumage is not a totally reliable method for sexing Rufous Gnateaters. We observed that sex ratio did not differ between large and small forest fragments, but birds in small fragments had larger wings and tarsus. Wing and tarsus changes may affect the movement ability of individuals within and among forest fragments. In conclusion, Rufous Gnateaters have been able to survive in both small and large Atlantic rain forest fragments without altering their sex ratio, but morphological changes can be prejudicial to their long term survival.