Ancient landscapes of the Namib Desert harbor high levels of genetic variability and deeply divergent lineages for Collembola.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To assess spatial patterns of genetic and species-level diversity for Namib Desert Collembola using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences.

Location

Namib Desert gravel plains.

Taxon

Collembola (springtails).

Methods

A total of 77 soil samples were collected along NE-SW (60 km) and E-W (160 km) transects from within a 4,000 km² area of the Namib Desert gravel plains. We extracted 434 springtails from the 37 samples which contained Collembola and sequenced them at the COI gene locus. In the absence of specific taxonomic keys and previous genetic data for these taxa, we used Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC) analyses to provide putative species-level designations.

Results

We obtained 341 successfu

SUBMITTER: Collins GE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6476783 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature