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Research Team
Research Team
Grace Ames
Grace Ames
Head Researcher
Dr. David Russell
Dr. David Russell
Advising Professor
Dr. Andor Kiss
Dr. Andor Kiss
Advising Professor
Connor Friday
Researcher/Presenter
Kelly Cooley
Researcher/Presenter
Max Meisner
Researcher/Presenter
John Dugan
Researcher/Presenter
Introduction
Introduction
Beetles in the genus Polyphylla belong to the scarab beetle family Scarabaeidae, a large and diverse group of insects. The genus Polyphylla contains dozens of species distributed throughout North America. Historically, species in this genus have been classified primarily using morphological traits. However, morphological classification has limitations, leading to increasing use of genetic methods such as Molecular Phylogenetics. In this study, samples of Polyphylla decemlineata, Polyphylla hamadai, and Polyphylla diffracta were collected and analyzed to evaluate their phylogenetic relationships using genetic data.
Research Question
Research Question
Does morphology-based taxonomy accurately reflect relationships within the genus Polyphylla by comparing genetic data from three New Mexico species, Polyphylla hamadai, Polyphylla diffracta, and Polyphylla decemlineata?
Methods
Methods
Beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata and Diffracta spp.) were collected from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and other regions of New Mexico. DNA was extracted from tissue samples using the Maxwell® RSC Genomic DNA Kit.
DNA was amplified via PCR using a master mix containing primers, Taq polymerase, and nuclease-free water. Mitochondrial markers (CO1, CO2, ND4) were targeted.
Amplified products were analyzed using Illumina MiSeq to compare genetic variation and confirm species identity between beetle groups.
Results/Findings and Discussion
Results/Findings and Discussion
Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Diffracta from the Sand Canyon clustered most with Decemlineata from Sand Canyon. This pair formed a sister group to Decemlineata from Las Vegas. These three taxa are further grouped with Decemlineata from Magdalena, forming a larger clade. Hammondi was recovered as the basal lineage relative to all other taxa included in the analysis.
Conclusions and Future Study
Conclusions and Future Study
This study evaluated whether the current morphology-based taxonomy accurately reflected relationships between Polyphilla. The phylogenetic analysis revealed preliminary clustering among sampled populations, with the Diffracta and Decemlineata from Sand Canyon forming the closest relationship. This result supports the idea of genetic relationships between species, and could support the idea of reclassification of the Polyphylla genus.
Some of the future directions for this research include more analysis of samples of Desemlineata, Polyphylla, and Hamandai from different areas around New Mexico and the western United States. This can further detect morphological vs. genetic comparison, which could lead to reclassification of the Polyphylla genus. This could also tell if morphology matches with genetics. Additionally, increasing sample size across all populations would improve the reliability of the phylogenetic relationships proposed from these preliminary findings.
Gels and Primers tested throughout the semester
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
Dr. David Russell, Miami University, Dr. Andor Kiss, CBFG Lab for use of their equipment
References
References
Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural
Research Service, Bugwood.org, UGA1321016
Young, R. M. (1988). A monograph of the genus
Polyphylla Harris in America North of Mexico
(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Bulletin
of the University of Nebraska State Museum, 11(2), 1-115
NACE Career Readiness Competencies
NACE Career Readiness Competencies
Communication
Through our work in this lab, we have developed strong communication skills by regularly sharing research updates, discussing lab techniques, and asking questions during meetings with other undergraduate researchers, a graduate student, and advising professors. Preparing and presenting our research will further strengthen our ability to communicate complex topics to a broader audience.
Teamwork
Working in a collaborative research environment with our team has enhanced our teamwork skills by promoting a shared responsibility of duties and collective problem-solving. Our strength in contributing meaningfully to group tasks and adapting to different roles in order to achieve our shared research goals has grown immensely.
Technology
Through this research, we were able to develop a new methodology for extracting DNA from our Polyphylla samples. We adapted to the unfamiliar territory and used the technology to our advantage to get results in the format we needed.
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