Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for delimitation of two ant species in Cerrado: Camponotus renggeri and Camponotus rufipes (Formicidae: Formicinae)

• Grant number: 12/08689-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Sergio Moreira Carvalho de Oliveira
• Grantee: Marianne Azevedo Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Camponotus rufipes (Fabricius) and Camponotus renggeri (Emery) are dominant ants that participate in several important interactions with other insects and plants in Cerrado. Although there are ecological differences and similarities between these two species, the criteria for identification of the two species are based only on classical morphological characters. This method creates uncertainty about the taxonomic boundaries between the two species since they are morphologically very similar. In this context, microsatellite markers have been widely used to provide a better understanding of the boundaries that separate species. Thus, this study aims to develop these markers for both species in order to find molecular evidence to clarify their taxonomic status. An enriched library will be used for this, consisting of the use of biotinylated oligonucleotide (CT)8 and (GT)8 and subsequent recovery by streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. Tests of transferability will be performed between the two species and the data will be analyzed using frequentist and Bayesian approaches. This study will hopefully provide molecular tools for the study of C. rufipes and C. renggeri in areas such as behavioral biology, population genetics, and phylogeography, among others.(AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RONQUE, MARIANE U. V.; AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; MORI, GUSTAVO M.; SOUZA, ANETE P.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Three ways to distinguish species: using behavioural, ecological, and molecular data to tell apart two closely related ants, Camponotus renggeri and Camponotus rufipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 176, n. 1, p. 170-181, JAN 2016. (12/23671-5, 12/08689-5, 14/23141-1, 11/04667-4, 13/08086-1, 11/18580-8, 08/52197-4)

AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; MORI, GUSTAVO M.; SOUZA, ANETE P.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Microsatellites for two Neotropical dominant ant species, Camponotus renggeri and C-rufipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CONSERVATION GENETICS RESOURCES, v. 7, n. 2, p. 459-462, JUN 2015. (12/23671-5, 12/08689-5, 13/08086-1, 11/18580-8, 08/52197-4)

RONQUE, MARIANE U. V.; AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; MORI, GUSTAVO M.; SOUZA, ANETE P.; OLIVEIRA, PAULO S.. Three ways to distinguish species: using behavioural, ecological, and molecular data to tell apart two closely related ants, Camponotus renggeri and Camponotus rufipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, v. 176, n. 1, p. 12-pg., 2016-01-01. (11/04667-4, 12/08689-5, 14/23141-1, 11/18580-8, 08/52197-4, 12/23671-5, 13/08086-1)