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个南非物种。该类群多呈异域分布，具有高度丰富的体色多态性，并通过物种及性别特异性的振动信号进行交流。种间形态保守性极高，意味着该类群中可能存在大量尚未被发现的隐存种。螳䗛目生物学的这些特征，使其成为探究生境适应性、性选择以及潜在感官成种驱动种群分化的理想类群。此前，由于缺乏合适的遗传标记，此类研究始终难以开展。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）：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，并利用涵盖该目目前已知全部4个科的10个物种的2-3个个体，对这些位点的跨类群扩增情况进行了测试。本研究首次重建了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。研究进一步比较了扩增成功率与多态性水平与遗传分化程度及分化后时间的相关性，结果与脊椎动物类群的相关研究一致：扩增成功率与遗传变异水平均与分化距离（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，将为澳螳䗛科多数物种的大范围群体遗传学分析、基于个体的谱系分析或亲权鉴定分析提供足够的分辨率，且其余各科也可获得至少部分可用位点。本研究资源将推动这一研究不足却极具科学价值的类群的进化生物学研究。