Historical domestication-driven population expansion of the dung beetle Gymnopleurus mopsus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from its last refuge in Mongolia

Abstract

Populations of Gymnopleurus mopsus (family Scarabaeidae), a dung beetle that displays dung-rolling behavior (i.e., a telecoprid), have recently experienced sharp declines, and many populations are now at high risk of local extinction. However, Mongolia, which constitutes a major portion of the species’ distribution, still sustains a relatively large population. Here, we used mitochondrial COI sequences to investigate the within-population genetic diversity and both the genetic and phylogeographic structures of 24 G. mopsus populations across the species’ main distribution in Mongolia. Several lines of evidence indicated that the phylogeographic structure of G. mopsus had been influenced by a recent and sudden demographic expansion. Interestingly, the expansion of Mongolia’s G. mopsus population corresponded to the advent of livestock domestication in the region, and the species’ genetic structure coincided with road networks, which presumably serve as migration routes for livestock that might mediate the beetle’s dispersal. In addition, we also found that G. mopsus possesses high levels of haplotype diversity, which is generally indicative of large effective population sizes (Ne). Overall, the present study contributes to the current understanding of G. mopsus’ demographic history and dispersal patterns and also provides valuable information for the species’ conservation and management.

Taxonomic review and distribution of giant water bugs (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae: Lethocerinae) in the Palearctic, Oriental, and Australian regions

“…The PCR products were purified and sequenced following Kang et al . (), and the resulting sequences were submitted to GenBank (accession numbers MK926406–MK926434). Additional information about the analyzed specimens is included in Table .…”

“…Amplification was performed in 20 μL reactions using the following conditions: 94°C for 2 min; 35 cycles of 94°C for 1 min, 42-48°C for 1 min, and 72°C for 1 min; and 72°C for 5 min. The PCR products were purified and sequenced following Kang et al (2018), and the resulting sequences were submitted to GenBank (accession numbers MK926406-MK926434). Additional information about the analyzed specimens is included in Table 1.…”

Drug Discovery Insights from Medicinal Beetles in Traditional Chinese Medicine

“…Gymnopleurus: The genus Gymnopleurus consists of dung beetles, including G. mopsus , a dung-rolling beetle found in Mongolia, Northern China, and the Korean peninsula that is used in TCM as Qiānɡ Lánɡ ( Namba et al ., 1988 ; Kang et al ., 2018 ). Although we could not find any bioactivity or chemical constituent studies on any species of Gymnopleurus , they are in the subfamily Scarabaeinae, so they may contain similar compounds to those from Catharsisus (91-95 in Fig.…”

Genetic structure, diversity and demography based on mitochondrial DNA analysis of Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…It was hypothesized that due to their smaller effective population sizes compared to those of central populations, edge populations experienced genetic drift after colonization (Swaegers et al 2013). In contrast, the dung beetle Gymnopleurus mopsus, which is at high risk of local extinction, expanded its distribution in conjunction with the advent of livestock domestication in Mongolia (Kang et al 2018).…”