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）目前仅包含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，并通过物种与性别特异性的振动信号进行交流。由于类群间形态保守性极强，因此很可能存在大量尚未被发现的隐存物种。螳䗛目生物学的这些特性，使其成为探究生境适应性、性选择以及潜在感官成种作用下种群分化的理想类群。然而此前缺乏合适的遗传标记，使得相关研究难以开展。为填补这一研究空白，本研究开发了该目首个微卫星位点：针对澳螳䗛科（Austrophasmatidae）的Karoophasma biedouwense设计了50个多态性位点，其中23个被标记，并利用覆盖该目4个已知科的10个物种的2至3个个体，对这些位点的跨目扩增能力进行了检测。本研究首次构建了COI基因的贝叶斯系统发育拓扑结构，并估算了该目的类群分化时间。随后将扩增成功率与多态性水平与遗传距离、分化时间进行关联分析，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距离（包括时间距离与遗传距离）呈负相关。本研究开发的大量信息位点，能够为澳螳䗛科多数物种提供足够的分辨率，用于大尺度种群遗传学分析以及基于个体的谱系或亲权鉴定，同时其余类群也可使用至少部分位点。这一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。