Naslov
Water scavenger beetles (Hydrophilidae, Coleoptera) of Croatia: phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial markers

Autori
Čorak, Luka ; Mičetić Stanković, Vlatka ; Bruvo Mađarić, Branka

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
SIEEC 22

Mjesto i datum
Varaždin, Hrvatska, 29.06.2011. - 03.07.2011

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Hydrophilidae; Coleoptera; molecular phylogeny

Sažetak
Due to worldwide decline in biological quality of water ecosystems, planning for freshwater biodiversity conservation is strongly needed. Water beetles (Coleoptera, Polyphaga) are known to be useful bio-indicators, especially because of their adaptation to specific environmental conditions. Hydrophilidae is a heterogeneous family of water scavenger beetles, and numerous studies of their taxonomy, morphology, and recently, their phylogeny (especially of superfamily Hydrophiloidea) were conducted. On the other hand, data on Hydrophilidae in Croatia are still scarce. Here we present results of screening of fauna of Hydrophilidae in Croatia with the aim of inferring present state of their diversity and phylogenetic status of taxa. Specimens were collected on several localities in southern, eastern and central Croatia, and identified based on morphological characters. About 20 species belonging to about 10 genera of Hydrophilidae were identified. Mitochondrial genes for cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and small ribosomal subunit (12S rRNA) were PCR amplified, sequenced and aligned with available matching sequences of Hydrophilidae and Hydrophiloidea deposited previously in GenBank. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using distance, parsimony and Bayesian methods, and obtained topologies examined. Preliminary results presented here are largely in concordance with previously published phylogenies within Hydrophilidae and Hydrophiloidea, and give valuable indications on phylogenetic relationships of several taxa that were not examined in previous studies. However, positions of certain taxa could not be affirmed with high support, and therefore should be checked and verified by the use of additional molecular markers. Results will facilitate in conservation of investigated area with contribution to knowledge of water beetle fauna of Croatia and implication of determined water beetles in water quality measurements on a European scale.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

POVEZANOST RADA