Isolation and characterization of novel microsatellite loci for the Eastern Pacific marine sponge Mycale cecilia by Illumina MiSeq sequencing.

Here we report the first microsatellite loci developed for a sponge species from the Eastern Pacific coast. These molecular markers will be used for population genetic studies of M. cecilia, and potentially in other congeneric species; particularly in vulnerable marine areas that require protection, such as coral reefs.