Microsatellites for the Neotropical ant, Camponotus leydigi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Issue 1 (3rd December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gonçalves‐Neto, Salatiel; Azevedo‐Silva, Marianne; Lemos, Alessandra S. M.; Souza, Anete P.; Oliveira, Paulo S.
• Is Part Of: Entomological science. Volume 24:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 79
• Page End: 84
• Publication Date: 2020-12-03
• Subjects: Camponotus leydigi -- cerrado savanna -- formicinae -- molecular markers -- neotropics -- simple sequence repeat -- social insects; Insects -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Periodicals; 595.705
• DOI: 10.1111/ens.12454
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1343-8786

Abstract

Abstract: Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are dominant social insects that play important ecological roles in terrestrial ecosystems. Camponotus leydigi (Forel) is widely distributed in the Neotropical region and is frequently found in the Brazilian cerrado savanna interacting with plants and other insects. Field observations indicate that C. leydigi has a polydomous nesting habit, but little is known about the genetic relationship among workers. In this study, we identify the first nine microsatellite loci for C. leydigi that will allow further investigation on its genetic diversity. We used a microsatellite‐enriched library method. According to this method, repetitive sequences are captured with (CT)8 and (GT)8 biotin‐linked probes, with subsequent recovery by streptavidin magnetic‐coated beads. We observed that eight loci were polymorphic. The mean (± standard error) observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.55 ± 0.23 and 0.73 ± 0.28, respectively. The rarified allelic richness ranged from 1 to 5.32. The polymorphism contents were similar to diversity estimates found in markers previously developed for other Camponotus ants. These markers will be useful for future studies on population genetics and ecology of Camponotus ants in cerrado, including nesting ecology, colony structure, dispersal and conservation. Abstract : Camponotus leydigi is widely distributed in the Neotropical region and is frequently found in the Brazilian cerrado savanna. Here, we identify the first microsatellite loci for C. leydigi . The markers presented high polymorphism content, similar to diversity estimates found in markers previously developed for other Camponotus ants. The markers will be useful for future studies on Camponotus population genetics.