Data from: Characterizing DNA preservation in degraded specimens of Amara alpina (Carabidae: Coleoptera)

DNA preserved in degraded beetle (Coleoptera) specimens, including those derived from dry-stored museum and ancient permafrost-preserved environments, could provide a valuable resource for researchers interested in species and population histories over timescales from decades to millenia. However, the potential of these samples as genetic resources is currently unassessed. Here, using Sanger and Illumina shotgun sequence data, we explored DNA preservation in specimens of the ground beetle Amara alpina, from both museum and ancient environments. Nearly all museum specimens had amplifiable DNA, with the maximum amplifiable fragment length decreasing with age. Amplification of DNA was only possible in 45% of ancient specimens. Preserved mitochondrial DNA fragments were significantly longer than those of nuclear DNA in both museum and ancient specimens. Metagenomic characterisation of extracted DNA demonstrated that parasite-derived sequences, including Wolbachia and Spiroplasma, are recoverable from museum beetle specimens. Ancient DNA extracts contained beetle DNA in amounts comparable to museum specimens. Overall, our data demonstrate that there is great potential for both museum and ancient beetle specimens in future genetic studies.

保存在降解甲虫（鞘翅目Coleoptera）标本中的DNA，包括源自干燥馆藏标本以及古代永久冻土保存环境的样本，可为关注数十年至数千年时间尺度下物种与种群历史的研究者提供宝贵的研究资源。然而，此类样本作为遗传资源的潜力目前尚未得到评估。本研究借助桑格（Sanger）测序与Illumina鸟枪测序技术，对馆藏及古代环境来源的高山婪步甲（Amara alpina）标本的DNA保存状况展开了探究。几乎所有馆藏标本均携带可扩增的DNA，其可扩增片段的最大长度随标本年代的增加呈递减趋势。仅45%的古代标本可实现DNA扩增。无论是馆藏标本还是古代标本，其线粒体DNA片段的长度均显著长于核DNA片段。对提取所得DNA的宏基因组表征结果显示，馆藏甲虫标本中可回收得到包括沃尔巴克氏体属（Wolbachia）与螺原体属（Spiroplasma）在内的寄生虫来源序列。古代DNA提取物中的甲虫DNA含量与馆藏标本相当。总体而言，本研究数据表明，馆藏与古代甲虫标本在未来遗传学研究中具备巨大的应用潜力。