First microsatellite markers for the pine catkin sawfly Xyela concava (Hymenoptera, Xyelidae) and their application in phylogeography and population genetics

Microsatellites are widely used as powerful markers in population genetics because of their ability to access recent genetic variation and to resolve subtle population genetic structures. However, their development, especially for non-model organisms with no available genome-wide sequence data has b...

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Main Authors: Dustin Kulanek, Stephan M. Blank, Katja Kramp
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2019-11-01
Series:PeerJ
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Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/8010.pdf
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author Dustin Kulanek
Stephan M. Blank
Katja Kramp
author_facet Dustin Kulanek
Stephan M. Blank
Katja Kramp
author_sort Dustin Kulanek
collection DOAJ
description Microsatellites are widely used as powerful markers in population genetics because of their ability to access recent genetic variation and to resolve subtle population genetic structures. However, their development, especially for non-model organisms with no available genome-wide sequence data has been difficult and time-consuming. Here, a commercial high-throughput sequencing approach (HTS) was used for the very first identification of microsatellite motifs in the genome of Xyela concava and the design of primer pairs flanking those motifs. Sixteen of those primer pairs were selected and implemented successfully to answer questions on the phylogeography and population genetics of X. concava. The markers were characterized in three geographically distinct populations of X. concava and tested for cross-species amplification in two additional Xyela and one Pleroneura species (Xyelidae). All markers showed substantial polymorphism as well as revealing subtle genetic structures among the three genotyped populations. We also analyzed a fragment of the nuclear gene region of sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase subunit alpha (NaK) and a partial mitochondrial gene region coding for cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) to demonstrate different genetic resolutions and sex-biased patterns of these markers, and their potential for combined use in future studies on the phylogeography and population genetics of X. concava. Although a limited number of populations was analyzed, we nevertheless obtained new insights on the latter two topics. The microsatellites revealed a generally high gene flow between the populations, but also suggested a deep historical segregation into two genetic lineages. This deep genetic segregation was confirmed by NaK. While the high gene flow was unexpected, because of assumed restricted dispersal ability of X. concava and the discontinuous distribution of the host trees between the populations, the segregation of two lineages is comprehensible and could be explained by different refuge areas of the hosts during glacial times. The COI results showed a discordant strong genetic structure between all populations, which might be explained by the smaller effective population size of the mitochondrial genome. However, given the frequent evidence of a similar nature in recent studies on sawflies, we also consider and discuss mitochondrial introgression on population level as an alternative explanation.
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spelling doaj.art-ea46248411794c89b5d6d6fec4712fca2023-12-03T10:14:09ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592019-11-017e801010.7717/peerj.8010First microsatellite markers for the pine catkin sawfly Xyela concava (Hymenoptera, Xyelidae) and their application in phylogeography and population geneticsDustin Kulanek0Stephan M. Blank1Katja Kramp2Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Müncheberg, GermanySenckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Müncheberg, GermanySenckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Müncheberg, GermanyMicrosatellites are widely used as powerful markers in population genetics because of their ability to access recent genetic variation and to resolve subtle population genetic structures. However, their development, especially for non-model organisms with no available genome-wide sequence data has been difficult and time-consuming. Here, a commercial high-throughput sequencing approach (HTS) was used for the very first identification of microsatellite motifs in the genome of Xyela concava and the design of primer pairs flanking those motifs. Sixteen of those primer pairs were selected and implemented successfully to answer questions on the phylogeography and population genetics of X. concava. The markers were characterized in three geographically distinct populations of X. concava and tested for cross-species amplification in two additional Xyela and one Pleroneura species (Xyelidae). All markers showed substantial polymorphism as well as revealing subtle genetic structures among the three genotyped populations. We also analyzed a fragment of the nuclear gene region of sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase subunit alpha (NaK) and a partial mitochondrial gene region coding for cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) to demonstrate different genetic resolutions and sex-biased patterns of these markers, and their potential for combined use in future studies on the phylogeography and population genetics of X. concava. Although a limited number of populations was analyzed, we nevertheless obtained new insights on the latter two topics. The microsatellites revealed a generally high gene flow between the populations, but also suggested a deep historical segregation into two genetic lineages. This deep genetic segregation was confirmed by NaK. While the high gene flow was unexpected, because of assumed restricted dispersal ability of X. concava and the discontinuous distribution of the host trees between the populations, the segregation of two lineages is comprehensible and could be explained by different refuge areas of the hosts during glacial times. The COI results showed a discordant strong genetic structure between all populations, which might be explained by the smaller effective population size of the mitochondrial genome. However, given the frequent evidence of a similar nature in recent studies on sawflies, we also consider and discuss mitochondrial introgression on population level as an alternative explanation.https://peerj.com/articles/8010.pdfXyela concavaMicrosatellitesPopulation geneticsPhylogeographySawfliesXyelidae
spellingShingle Dustin Kulanek
Stephan M. Blank
Katja Kramp
First microsatellite markers for the pine catkin sawfly Xyela concava (Hymenoptera, Xyelidae) and their application in phylogeography and population genetics
PeerJ
Xyela concava
Microsatellites
Population genetics
Phylogeography
Sawflies
Xyelidae
title First microsatellite markers for the pine catkin sawfly Xyela concava (Hymenoptera, Xyelidae) and their application in phylogeography and population genetics
title_full First microsatellite markers for the pine catkin sawfly Xyela concava (Hymenoptera, Xyelidae) and their application in phylogeography and population genetics
title_fullStr First microsatellite markers for the pine catkin sawfly Xyela concava (Hymenoptera, Xyelidae) and their application in phylogeography and population genetics
title_full_unstemmed First microsatellite markers for the pine catkin sawfly Xyela concava (Hymenoptera, Xyelidae) and their application in phylogeography and population genetics
title_short First microsatellite markers for the pine catkin sawfly Xyela concava (Hymenoptera, Xyelidae) and their application in phylogeography and population genetics
title_sort first microsatellite markers for the pine catkin sawfly xyela concava hymenoptera xyelidae and their application in phylogeography and population genetics
topic Xyela concava
Microsatellites
Population genetics
Phylogeography
Sawflies
Xyelidae
url https://peerj.com/articles/8010.pdf
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