Genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns of the peacock jewel-damselfly, Rhinocypha fenestrella (Rambur, 1842)

Abstract

Despite is known to have widespread distribution and the most active species of the family Chlorocyphidae, the molecular data of Rhinocypha fenestrella (Rambur, 1842) are relatively scarce. The present study is the first that examined the genetic diversity and phylogeographic pattern of the peacock jewel-damselfly R. fenestrella by sequencing the cytochrome C oxidase I (cox1) and 16S rRNA gene regions from 147 individuals representing eight populations in Malaysia. A total of 26 and 10 unique haplotypes were revealed by the cox1 and 16S rRNA genes, respectively, and 32 haplotypes were recovered by the concatenated sequences of cox1+16S. Analyses indicated that haplotype AB2 was the most frequent and the most widespread haplotype in Malaysia while haplotype AB1 was suggested as the common ancestor haplotype of the R. fenestrella that may arose from the Negeri Sembilan as discovered from cox1+16S haplotype network analysis. Overall haplotype and nucleotide diversities of the concatenated sequences were Hd = 0.8937 and Pi = 0.0028, respectively, with great genetic differentiation (FST = 0.6387) and low gene flow (Nm = 0.14). Population from Pahang presented the highest genetic diversity (Hd = 0.8889, Pi = 0.0022, Nh = 9), whereas Kedah population demonstrated the lowest diversity (Hd = 0.2842, Pi = 0.0003, Nh = 4). The concatenated sequences of cox1+16S showed genetic divergence ranging from 0.09% to 0.97%, whereas the genetic divergence for cox1 and 16S rRNA genes were 0.16% to 1.63% and 0.01% to 0.75% respectively. This study provides for the first-time insights on the intraspecific genetic diversity, phylogeographic pattern and ancestral haplotype of Rhinocypha fenestrella. The understanding of molecular data especially phylogeographic pattern can enhance the knowledge about insect origin, their diversity, and capability to disperse in particular environments.

Fig 1. Map of sampling sites and haplotype distribution (AB1–AB15) of concatenated cox1+16S sequences for Rhinocypha fenestrella from eight sampling locations representing eight states of Peninsular Malaysia.

Fig 2. Median joining haplotype network of Rhinocypha fenestrella of cox1 sequences isolated from eight different states in Peninsular Malaysia.

Each circle represents a haplotype variation, and the size of a circle is proportional to the number of sequences assigned to that haplotype. Circles of the same colour represent haplotypes from the same population. A small black square represents median vectors.

Fig 3. Median joining haplotype network of Rhinocypha fenestrella of 16S sequences isolated from eight different states in Peninsular Malaysia.

Each circle represents a haplotype variation, and the size of a circle is proportional to the number of sequences assigned to that haplotype. Circles of the same colour represent haplotypes from the same population. A small black square represents median vectors.

Fig 4. Median joining haplotype network of Rhinocypha fenestrella of concatenated cox1+16S sequences isolated from eight different states in Peninsular Malaysia.

Each circle represents a haplotype variation, and the size of a circle is proportional to the number of sequences assigned to that haplotype. Circles of the same colour represent haplotypes from the same population. A small black square represents median vectors.

Fig 5. Distribution curves of mismatch distribution for cox1+16S analysis of Rhinocypha fenestrella populations based on pairwise differences among haplotypes.

Note: The solid red line represents the actual observed distribution; the blue dashed line represents the expected distribution.