Expanding the Record of GSMNP Water Mite Diversity with Molecular Genetics
Expanding the Record of GSMNP Water Mite Diversity with Molecular Genetics
We have documented 60 water mite genera in the Park from collections made from 2005-2009. These specimens, preserved for traditional morphological taxonomy, will continue for many years to be useful in our efforts to document described and new species. However, since these specimens are not suitable for DNA analysis, we began to obtain specimens for this purpose in 2009. Specimens have been sent to Dr. Hebert’s lab at the University of Guelph and to the University of Arkansas for determination of C01 (barcode) gene sequences. These gene sequences are expected to be useful in addressing issues that arise in our taxonomic and systematics efforts. We propose to return to the Park in 2010 to continue to obtain specimens for DNA analysis. Our goal is to establish a genetic record of the water mite species of the Park to complement the existing morphological record.
In 2010, we continued our collection of water mites preserved in 95% ethanol for determination of CO1 gene sequences (“barcodes.”). Efforts to provide CO1 sequences for more than 100 water mite species in the Park continue through the International Barcode of Life (IBOL) project and the University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology. Information on water mites with barcodes can be found at http://www.boldsystems.org/views/login.php DNA sequences of specimens from Mingus Creek, Little River, Deep Creek, and Middle Prong of the Little River were used in a comparative study of species in the genus Kongsbergia from Appalachia and the Interior Highlands (Ozark and Ouachita Mountains). Consistent with our morphological hypotheses, Appalachian specimens strongly diverged from those of the Interior Highlands. Among the Park specimens, five species were evident; a single species was found in the Interior Highlands. This study has been accepted for publication in the International Journal of Acarology. Two of three papers involving new species discovered in GSMNP that we reported last year appeared in the International Journal of Acarology in 2010, and an additional publication to include two new species in the genus Kongsbergia that occur in the Park is in preparation.
