First genetic data for band-winged grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Oedipodinae) of the Biskra region of Algeria with new records for the country

DNA barcoding represents an objective tool for fast species identification, especially for taxa for which morphological identification is difficult. One current limitation of barcoding is the lack of reference sequences for many groups. While many European and North American countries have started their own barcoding initiatives to generate complete local inventories and databases, such efforts are sparse for African, Asian and South American countries, despite their high biodiversity and comparably poorly explored faunas. Therefore, it is important to start local barcoding efforts in such countries. In this study we performed DNA barcoding for the band-winged grasshoppers of the Biskra province in Algeria, a region of high diversity for this taxon. All specimens were identified morphologically and then barcoded. We generated a total of 47 sequences of the COI gene for 22 morphologically identified species of Oedipodinae, many of which were sequenced for the first time. We present the data in a phylogenetic tree, which suggests monophyly for most genera, but rejects it for Sphingonotus and Vosseleriana. Statistical species delimitation worked well for most genera, except those within the Sphingonotini, likely because these have radiated rather recently. Together with data sourced from the literature we used our new data set to generate an updated list of band-winged grasshoppers for the region. Several species are recorded for the region and for the country for the first time. One species appears to be new to science. Furthermore, we found geographic variation within several more widespread species for which data from other countries were present. We consider the new data as an important resource for future faunistic, ecological and biodiversity studies and point out the importance of local (taxon-specific) barcoding studies.     

宁夏束颈蝗Cytb基因的Numt分析

核线粒体假基因Numt（Nuclear Mitochondrial pseudogene）的存在具有重大的进化意义,它为基因组进化和基因组间相互作用的动态研究打开了一个窗口。假基因是基因组上与编码基因序列非常相似的非功能性基因组DNA拷贝,一般情况都不被转录,且没有明确生理意义。Numts由于处于不同的突变压力下,与真正的线粒体序列相比具不同的进化模式,其进化速率比线粒体同源基因要慢的多,类似分子化石,在核苷酸序列上更接近现存mtDNA的祖先状态。本研究在前几年研究的基础上,通过PCR技术,旨在发现宁夏束颈蝗核基因组中所存在的线粒体Cytb基因的假基因（Numt）。通过对PCR产物的检测,推断宁夏束颈蝗存在Numt,在对目标片断进行测序并利用GeneBank的BLASTn序列比对后确定序列特征,进一步确定Numt的实验正在规化进行中。预期本研究的结果将为Numts来源和机制,基因组进化和基因组间相互作用、系统进化、横向基因转移和核序列突变等研究提供实验基础。