Molecular identification of Trichocera maculipennis, an invasive fly species in the Maritime Antarctic
- PDF / 690,509 Bytes
- 6 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 48 Downloads / 165 Views
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Molecular identification of Trichocera maculipennis, an invasive fly species in the Maritime Antarctic Marta Potocka1 · Ewa Krzemińska2 · Robert Gromadka3 · Jan Gawor3 · Joanna Kocot‑Zalewska4 Received: 29 August 2019 / Accepted: 29 May 2020 © The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Trichocera maculipennis, an invasive Diptera, was described for the first time in Antarctica in 2006 in a sewage system of one of the scientific stations on King George Island, South Shetland Islands, and started to increase its distribution within the island. To date, only taxonomical description of this species, based on morphological data has been available, as there were no molecular data recorded. In the present study, we present two methods of molecular identification of this species—based on partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S) genes. An appropriate and easy-to-use assay for proper and fast identification of invasive species is a key requirement for further management decisions, especially in such a fragile environment as found in terrestrial Antarctica. Keywords Invasive species · Antarctica · Trichocera · Non-native species · Molecular identification · Insects · Alien species
Introduction Terrestrial habitats in Antarctica are limited to ice–free areas, consisting 0.2% of the continent’s surface [1]. Most of these regions are located on the coast of the continent, especially the Antarctic Peninsula and associated archipelagos, and a number of oases in East Antarctica [2]. Severe conditions, such as extreme low temperature, limited primary production, and very strong wind, make Antarctica inhospitable for terrestrial organisms. Therefore, the region’s biodiversity is very low, with very simple ecological structure [3]. Flora is limited to cryptogams, such as lichens and
* Marta Potocka [email protected] 1
Department of Antarctic Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, 02‑106 Warsaw, Poland
2
Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31‑016 Kraków, Poland
3
Laboratory of DNA Sequencing and Oligonucleotide Synthesis, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, 02‑106 Warsaw, Poland
4
Institute of Biology, University of Opole, Oleska 22, 45‑052 Opole, Poland
bryophytes, and two native flowering species, Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis. Animal species are represented mostly by micro-invertebrates, and only two species of macro-arthropods, both chironomiid flies, Parochlus steinenii and Belgica antarctica [4–6]. However, the recent increase in human activity, together with climate change, observed in Maritime Antarctica in last 30 years [7], have led the region to become more exposed to expansion of nonnative species, introduced unintentionally by national operators of scientific stations or tourists visiting the region. Most of these species are not adapted to survive in the Antarctic environment,
Data Loading...
