Nolan et al.—Genetic variability of New Zealand damselflies

New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts

Allozyme and mitochondrial DNA variability within the New Zealand damselfly genera Xanthocnemis, Austrolestes, and Ischnura (Odonata)

Liam Nolan^1,*

Ian D. Hogg^1,†

Darin L. Sutherland^1,‡

Mark I. Stevens^1,2

Kareen E. Schnabel^1,§

¹Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Waikato
Private Bag 3105
Hamilton 3240, New Zealand

²Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology & Evolution
Massey University
Private Bag 11222
Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand

and

School of Biological Sciences
Monash University
Clayton 3800
Victoria, Australia

^*Current address: Cirencester College, Fosse Way Campus, Stroud Road, Cirencester, S Glos, United Kingdom.

^†Author for correspondence: hogg@waikato.ac.nz

^‡Current address: West Coast Conservancy, Department of Conservation, Private Bag 701, Hokitika 7842, New Zealand.

^§Current address: Marine Biodiversity and Biosecurity National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) Ltd, Private Bag 14901, Kilbirnie, Wellington 6241, New Zealand.

Abstract We collected larval damselflies from 17 sites in the North, South and Chatham Islands, and tested the hypotheses that: (1) genetic markers (e.g., allozymes, mtDNA) would successfully discriminate taxa; and (2) the dispersal capabilities of adult damselflies would limit differentiation among locations. Four species from three genera were identified based on available taxonomic keys. Using 11 allozyme loci and the mitochondrial cytochrome c-oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, we confirmed that all taxa were clearly discernible. We found evidence for low to moderate differentiation among locations based on allozyme (mean F_ST= 0.09) and sequence (COI) divergence (<0.034). No obvious patterns with respect to geographic location were detected, although slight differences were found between New Zealand’s main islands (North Island, South Island) and the Chatham Islands for A. colensonis (sequence divergence 0.030–0.034). We also found limited intraspecific genetic variability based on allozyme data (H_exp < 0.06 in all cases). We conclude that levels of gene flow/dispersal on the main islands may have been sufficient to maintain the observed homogeneous population structure, and that genetic techniques, particularly the COI gene locus, will be a useful aid in future identifications.

Keywords allozymes; COI; dispersal; DNA barcoding; gene flow; population genetics; Zygoptera

Z07012; Online publication date 8 November 2007; Received 16 April 2007; accepted 3 October 2007

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New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts

Allozyme and mitochondrial DNA variability within the New Zealand damselfly genera Xanthocnemis, Austrolestes, and Ischnura (Odonata)

Liam Nolan1,*

Ian D. Hogg1,†

Darin L. Sutherland1,‡

Mark I. Stevens1,2

Kareen E. Schnabel1,§

1Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research Department of Biological Sciences University of Waikato Private Bag 3105 Hamilton 3240, New Zealand

2Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology & Evolution Massey University Private Bag 11222 Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand

and

School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton 3800 Victoria, Australia

*Current address: Cirencester College, Fosse Way Campus, Stroud Road, Cirencester, S Glos, United Kingdom.

†Author for correspondence: hogg@waikato.ac.nz

‡Current address: West Coast Conservancy, Department of Conservation, Private Bag 701, Hokitika 7842, New Zealand.

§Current address: Marine Biodiversity and Biosecurity National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) Ltd, Private Bag 14901, Kilbirnie, Wellington 6241, New Zealand.