LAUSR

Abstract Microsatellite loci (tandem repeats of short nucleotide motifs) are highly abundant in eukaryotic genomes and often used as genetic markers because they can exhibit variation both within and between populations. Although widely recognized for their mutability and utility, the mutation rates of microsatellites have only been empirically estimated in a few species, and have rarely been compared across genotypes and populations within a species. Here, we investigate the dynamics of microsatellite mutation over long- and short-time periods by quantifying the starting abundance and mutation rates for microsatellites for six different genotypes of Daphnia magna, an aquatic microcrustacean, collected from three populations (Finland, Germany, and Israel). Using whole-genome sequences of these six starting genotypes, descendent mutation accumulation (MA) lines, and large population controls (non-MA lines), we find each genotype exhibits a distinctive initial microsatellite profile which clusters according to the population-of-origin. During the period of MA, we observe motif-specific, highly variable, and rapid microsatellite mutation rates across genotypes of D. magna, the average of which is order of magnitude greater than the recently reported rate observed in a single genotype of the congener, Daphnia pulex. In our experiment, genotypes with more microsatellites starting out exhibit greater losses and those with fewer microsatellites starting out exhibit greater gains—a context-dependent mutation bias that has not been reported previously. We discuss how genotype-specific mutation rates and spectra, in conjunction with evolutionary forces, can shape both the differential accumulation of repeat content in the genome and the evolution of mutation rates.