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Nonlethal sampling of DNA from critically endangered diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) using a single antenna
Author(s) -
SUZUKI Gaku,
INODA Toshio,
KUBOTA Souichirou
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
entomological science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1479-8298
pISSN - 1343-8786
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-8298.2012.00523.x
Subject(s) - biology , dytiscidae , endangered species , critically endangered , zoology , antenna (radio) , cytochrome c oxidase subunit i , mating , mitochondrial dna , polymerase chain reaction , ecology , genetics , habitat , gene , telecommunications , computer science
Nonlethal DNA sampling is highly desirable in molecular genetic studies of protected and endangered species. To develop a demonstrably nonlethal method of obtaining DNA from endangered diving beetles ( Dytiscus sharpi sharpi Wehncke, Cybister lewisianus Sharp and Cybister brevis Aubé), we amputated the antennae of these endangered diving beetles and investigated the impact of the amputation on reproductive behaviors, egg‐laying and lifespan. Diving beetles with either one or no antennae copulated without delay and laid eggs, comparable to the pairs of intact beetles under breeding conditions. The lifespan of antennae‐amputated D. sharpi sharpi was the same as that of the intact beetles. A single antenna was sufficient to allow polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of a mitochondrial DNA gene, cytochrome‐ c oxidase subunit I ( COI ), and the sequence of the COI gene could be determined directly. The PCR‐ready genomic DNA was available both in fresh antennae isolated from living beetles and in old antennae from whole beetles preserved for at least 5–6 years in pure ethanol. These results suggest that an antenna is a good sampling site for isolating genomic DNA from endangered diving beetles without sacrificing and disturbing reproductive behaviors such as mating and egg‐laying, or lifespan.