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Unusually high genetic diversity in COI sequences of Chimarra obscura (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae)
Citation:
PILGRIM, E. AND S. A. JACKSON. Unusually high genetic diversity in COI sequences of Chimarra obscura (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae). Presented at North American Benthological Society, Sante Fe, NM, June 06 - 11, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
Biological resource conservation and management programs have benefitted greatly over the last decade from advances in population genetics research. The EPA, while having very similar goals to these programs, has yet to capitalize on the rapid advances in molecular population genetic methods. This research aims to evaluate the utility of population genetic measurements for describing the current condition and vulnerabilities of biological populations exposed to anthropogenic stressors.
Description:
Chimarra obscura (Walker 1852) is a philopotamid caddisfly found throughout much of North America. Using the COI DNA barcode locus, we have found unexpectedly high amounts of genetic diversity and distances within C. obscura. Of the approximately 150 specimens sampled, we have found over 50 COI haplotypes. Minimum spanning network analysis of these haplotypes reveals two distinct clades, one common (130+ specimens) and one rare (10+ specimens). These two major clades are separated by genetic distances of 7-8%. Within the large common clade are three smaller clades that are separated by genetic distances of 1-2%. We discuss whether these distances represent unusually high intraspecies genetic variation or if this data suggests cryptic diversity within C. obscura.