biostudies-literatureBuono VAUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF BOLZANO, VENETO REGION, AUTONOMOUS REGION OF FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA and LOMBARDY REGIONLAZIO REGIONABRUZZO LAZIO AND MOLISE NATIONAL PARK and MAJELLA NATIONAL PARK2164https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9690282biostudies-literatureUnknown13(11)An assessment of the genetic diversity and structure of a population is essential for designing recovery plans for threatened species. Italy hosts two brown bear populations, <i>Ursus arctos marsicanus</i> (<i>Uam</i>), endemic to the Apennines of central Italy, and <i>Ursus arctos arctos</i> (<i>Uaa</i>), in the Italian Alps. Both populations are endangered and occasionally involved in human-wildlife conflict; thus, detailed management plans have been in place for several decades, including genetic monitoring. Here, we propose a simple cost-effective microsatellite-based protocol for the management of populations with low genetic variation. We sampled 22 <i>Uam</i> and 22 <i>Uaa</i> individuals and analyzed a total of 32 microsatellite loci in order to evaluate their applicability in indiGenesMicrosatellite Characterization and Panel Selection for Brown Bear (<i>Ursus arctos</i>) Population Assessment.PMC9690282Research Project No. L00CGE18Research Project No. L00CGE16Research Project No. L00CGE11 - CUP C36C18000460005Buono VCatania GHauffe HCMucci NBurgio SMacri NDavoli FfalseMicrosatellite Characterization and Panel Selection for Brown Bear (<i>Ursus arctos</i>) Population Assessment.An assessment of the genetic diversity and structure of a population is essential for designing recovery plans for threatened species. Italy hosts two brown bear populations, <i>Ursus arctos marsicanus</i> (<i>Uam</i>), endemic to the Apennines of central Italy, and <i>Ursus arctos arctos</i> (<i>Uaa</i>), in the Italian Alps. Both populations are endangered and occasionally involved in human-wildlife conflict; thus, detailed management plans have been in place for several decades, including genetic monitoring. Here, we propose a simple cost-effective microsatellite-based protocol for the management of populations with low genetic variation. We sampled 22 <i>Uam</i> and 22 <i>Uaa</i> individuals and analyzed a total of 32 microsatellite loci in order to evaluate their applicability in indi2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2025-04-19T16:09:49.949Z2025-04-19T16:09:49.949ZS-EPMC96902823642183810.3390/genes13112164