Data from: Variable molecular markers for the order Mantophasmatodea (Insecta)

The recently discovered insect order Mantophasmatodea currently comprises 19 Southern African species. These mainly occur in allopatry, have high levels of colour polymorphism and communicate via species- and gender-specific vibratory signals. High levels of interspecific morphological conservatism mean that cryptic species are likely to be uncovered. These aspects of Mantophasmatodean biology make them an ideal group in which to investigate population divergence due to habitat-specific adaptation, sexual selection and potentially sensory speciation. Lack of appropriate genetic markers has thus far rendered such studies unfeasible. To address this need, the first microsatellite loci for this order were developed. Fifty polymorphic loci were designed specifically for Karoophasma biedouwense (Austrophasmatidae), out of which 23 were labelled and tested for amplification across the order using 2-3 individuals from 10 species, representing all four currently known families. A Bayesian COI topology was reconstructed and divergence dates within the order were estimated for the first time. Amplification success and levels of polymorphism were compared with genetic divergence and time since divergence. In agreement with studies on vertebrate taxa, both amplification and variability were negatively correlated with distance (temporal and genetic). The high number of informative loci will offer sufficient resolution for both broad level population genetic analysis and individual based pedigree or parentage analyses for most species in Austrophasmatidae, with at least some loci available for the other families. This resource will facilitate research into the evolutionary biology of this understudied but fascinating group.

新近发现的螳䗛目（Mantophasmatodea）目前包含19种南非本土物种。该类群多呈异域分布，具有高度的体色多态性，并通过物种及性别特异性的振动信号进行通讯。极高的种间形态保守性提示，该类群中大概率存在尚未被发现的隐存物种。螳䗛目生物学的上述特征，使其成为研究生境特异性适应、性选择及潜在感官成种驱动种群分化的理想类群。此前因缺乏合适的遗传标记，相关研究始终难以开展。为填补这一研究空白，本研究开发了该目首个微卫星位点（microsatellite loci）。研究针对Karoophasma biedouwense（澳螳䗛科Austrophasmatidae）设计了50个多态性位点，其中23个被标记，并选取代表当前已知4个科的10个物种的2-3个个体，对该批位点在全目范围内的扩增效果进行了检测。本研究首次重建了COI基因的贝叶斯（Bayesian）拓扑结构，并估算了该目内的物种分化时间。研究还将扩增成功率与多态性水平，与遗传分化程度及分化后时间跨度进行了关联分析。结果与脊椎动物类群的相关研究一致：扩增成功率与变异程度均与分化距离（包括时间距离与遗传距离）呈负相关。本研究获得的大量信息性位点，可为澳螳䗛科多数物种的大尺度群体遗传分析，以及基于个体的谱系或亲权鉴定分析提供足够的分辨率，且其余类群也至少可获得部分可用位点。本研究资源将有力推动对这一研究不足却极具科研价值的类群的进化生物学研究。