Characterization of nine polymorphic microsatellite loci in Chorocaris sp (Crustacea, Caridea, Alvinocarididae) from deep-sea hydrothermal vents

Species in the genus Chorocaris are caridean shrimp found at deep-sea hydrothermal vents at mid-ocean spreading centers. Nine unlinked polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed for this Chorocaris sp. 2 from the Manus back-arc basin, southwest Pacific. Three loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Average observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.17 to 0.74 (mean H-O = 0.45, SD = 0.21). Eight out of nine loci cross-amplified in one or two additional species of alvinocaridid shrimp that co-occur with Chorocaris sp. 2 at western Pacific vent habitats. The efficacy of our markers to detect genetic population structure is demonstrated using 362 individuals from 3 sites in Manus Basin. Microsatellites developed for Chorocaris sp. 2 are being deployed to study connectivity among populations of this species colonizing geographically discrete back-arc basin vent systems.