Spatial dispersion of soldier flies (Stratiomyidae, Diptera) between non-perennial water bodies in El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, Sonora, México

Authors: Germán Cabral, Alejandro Varela-Romero, Michael Bogan, José Chon, Francisco Freaner

Year: 2019

Abstract

Flight capability in insects is important for microhabitat colonization, this dispersion is of great reproductive importance since this maintains the genetic flow between populations, and nevertheless, the high energetic cost of flight is an impediment for insects that cross great distances looking for these habitats. In drylands non-perennial water bodies are important temporal niches and their colonization is vital for the aquatic community that lives in them, that is why the study of gene flow between these populations is critical to know the various effects that can occur in them. The El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve has many non-perennial water bodies with variable hidroperiods and are separated between arid lands, inhabitants of this water bodies include soldier flies (Stratiomys sp.) which colonization mechanisms and actual status of the population are unknown. The gene flow between populations permit to have a high degree of heterozygosity and therefore to have a great genetic variability to survive to changing conditions, in regions like El Pinacate where water scarcity is high is of great importance to know the estate of populations of aquatic insects like soldier flies that depend on the essential resource. The objective of this work is to determine the gene flow of Stratiomys sp between various water bodies in the volcanic plate of the El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve. We will use at least 10 microsatellites loci from DNA extracted from larvae collected during the rainy season, to evaluate potential dispersion between populations. This studies allow us to make inferences of the population status and extrapolate the information for the study of the aquatic communities.