Abstract

The study of ancient DNA is revolutionizing our understanding of paleo-ecology and the evolutionary history of species. Insects are essential components in many ecosystems and constitute the most diverse group of animals. Yet they are largely neglected in ancient DNA studies. We report the results of the first targeted investigation of insect ancient DNA to positively identify subfossil insects to species, which includes the recovery of endogenous content from samples as old as ~ 34,355 ybp. Potential inhibitors currently limiting widespread research on insect ancient DNA are discussed, including the lack of closely related genomic reference sequences (decreased mapping efficiency) and the need for more extensive collaborations with insect taxonomists. The advantages of insect-based studies are also highlighted, especially in the context of understanding past climate change. In this regard, insect remains from ancient packrat middens are a rich and largely uninvestigated resource for exploring paleo-ecology and species dynamics over time.

Details

Title
Recovery and analysis of ancient beetle DNA from subfossil packrat middens using high-throughput sequencing
Author
Smith, Aaron D 1 ; Kamiński, Marcin J 2 ; Kanda Kojun 3 ; Sweet, Andrew D 4 ; Betancourt, Julio L 5 ; Holmgren, Camille A 6 ; Hempel, Elisabeth 7 ; Alberti Federica 8 ; Hofreiter, Michael 9 

 Purdue University, Department of Entomology, West Lafayette, USA (GRID:grid.169077.e) (ISNI:0000 0004 1937 2197) 
 Purdue University, Department of Entomology, West Lafayette, USA (GRID:grid.169077.e) (ISNI:0000 0004 1937 2197); Polish Academy of Sciences, Zoological Museum, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Warszawa, Poland (GRID:grid.413454.3) (ISNI:0000 0001 1958 0162) 
 USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory, C/O Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, USA (GRID:grid.453560.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 2192 7591) 
 Purdue University, Department of Entomology, West Lafayette, USA (GRID:grid.169077.e) (ISNI:0000 0004 1937 2197); Arkansas State University, Department of Biological Sciences, State University, USA (GRID:grid.252381.f) (ISNI:0000 0001 2169 5989) 
 U.S. Geological Survey, Science and Decisions Center, Reston, USA (GRID:grid.2865.9) (ISNI:0000000121546924) 
 SUNY Buffalo State College, Department of Geography and Planning, Buffalo, USA (GRID:grid.468712.e) (ISNI:0000 0001 0852 5651) 
 University of Potsdam, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam, Germany (GRID:grid.11348.3f) (ISNI:0000 0001 0942 1117); Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Museum Für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany (GRID:grid.422371.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 2293 9957) 
 University of Potsdam, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam, Germany (GRID:grid.11348.3f) (ISNI:0000 0001 0942 1117); Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Mannheim, Germany (GRID:grid.461759.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 2172 4700) 
 University of Potsdam, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam, Germany (GRID:grid.11348.3f) (ISNI:0000 0001 0942 1117) 
Publication year
2021
Publication date
2021
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2541557550
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2021. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.