Evolutionary trade-offs between male secondary sexual traits revealed by a phylogeny of the hyperdiverse tribe Eumaeini (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).

Male butterflies in the hyperdiverse tribe Eumaeini possess an unusually complex and diverse repertoire of secondary sexual characteristics involved in pheromone production and dissemination. Maintaining multiple sexually selected traits is likely to be metabolically costly, potentially resulting in trade-offs in the evolution of male signals. However, a phylogenetic framework to test hypotheses regarding the evolution and maintenance of male sexual traits in Eumaeini has been lacking. Here, we infer a comprehensive, time-calibrated phylogeny from 379 loci for 187 species representing 91% of the 87 described genera. Eumaeini is a monophyletic group that originated in the late Oligocene and underwent rapid radiation in the Neotropics. We examined specimens of 818 of the 1096 described species (75%) and found that secondary sexual traits are present in males of 91% of the surveyed species. Scent pads and scent patches on the wings and brush organs associated with the genitalia were probably present in the common ancestor of Eumaeini and are widespread throughout the tribe. Brush organs and scent pads are negatively correlated across the phylogeny, exhibiting a trade-off in which lineages with brush organs are unlikely to regain scent pads and vice versa. In contrast, scent patches seem to facilitate the evolution of scent pads, although they are readily lost once scent pads have evolved. Our results illustrate the complex interplay between natural and sexual selection in the origin and maintenance of multiple male secondary sexual characteristics and highlight the potential role of sexual selection spurring diversification in this lineage.

Developing a rapid, efficient and low cost method for rapid DNA extraction from arthropods

Here, it is presented a rapid and efficient method to obtain good quality DNA from small samples of arthropod tissues generating low quantities of hazardous wastes. This new method was compared with another homemade protocol using phenol and other two commercial kits. The quality of DNA obtained was checked by spectrophotometer and evaluated by an AFLP assay. Low shearing DNA was obtained from all samples and the best readings were observed to DNA recollected with the new method. The AFLP assay indicated that DNA obtained with all methods were suitable for use in molecular biology techniques sensitive to contaminants. However, homemade protocols were more efficient in recollect DNA than commercial kits, without lose any quality of samples. Also, they were less time and fund consuming, with costs ten times cheaper than commercial kits. The quicker, less pollutant and cheaper protocol was the one described here (USD 0.52 per sample).

Aqui, é apresentado um método rápido e eficiente para obtenção de DNA de boa qualidade a partir de pequenas amostras de tecidos de artrópodos, gerando pequenas quantidades de resíduos perigosos. Comparamos a eficiência do método com outro protocolo caseiro utilizando fenol e com dois kits comerciais. A qualidade do DNA obtido foi verificada em espectrofotômetro e avaliada por um ensaio de AFLP. Foi obtido DNA pouco fragmentado a partir de todas as amostras, mas as melhores leituras foram obtidas para o DNA extraído com o novo método. O ensaio de AFLP indicou que os DNAs obtidos estavam adequados para uso em técnicas de biologia molecular sensíveis a contaminantes. Porém, os protocolos caseiros foram mais eficientes em extrair DNA do que kits comerciais, sem perder nenhuma qualidade na pureza das amostras. Além disso, eles foram mais rápidos e baratos, chegando a custar dez vezes menos que os kits comerciais. O protocolo mais rápido, menos poluente e mais barato foi o descrito aqui (USD 0,52 por amostra).

Developing a rapid, efficient and low cost method for rapid DNA extraction from arthropods

Here, it is presented a rapid and efficient method to obtain good quality DNA from small samples of arthropod tissues generating low quantities of hazardous wastes. This new method was compared with another homemade protocol using phenol and other two commercial kits. The quality of DNA obtained was checked by spectrophotometer and evaluated by an AFLP assay. Low shearing DNA was obtained from all samples and the best readings were observed to DNA recollected with the new method. The AFLP assay indicated that DNA obtained with all methods were suitable for use in molecular biology techniques sensitive to contaminants. However, homemade protocols were more efficient in recollect DNA than commercial kits, without lose any quality of samples. Also, they were less time and fund consuming, with costs ten times cheaper than commercial kits. The quicker, less pollutant and cheaper protocol was the one described here (USD 0.52 per sample).

Aqui, é apresentado um método rápido e eficiente para obtenção de DNA de boa qualidade a partir de pequenas amostras de tecidos de artrópodos, gerando pequenas quantidades de resíduos perigosos. Comparamos a eficiência do método com outro protocolo caseiro utilizando fenol e com dois kits comerciais. A qualidade do DNA obtido foi verificada em espectrofotômetro e avaliada por um ensaio de AFLP. Foi obtido DNA pouco fragmentado a partir de todas as amostras, mas as melhores leituras foram obtidas para o DNA extraído com o novo método. O ensaio de AFLP indicou que os DNAs obtidos estavam adequados para uso em técnicas de biologia molecular sensíveis a contaminantes. Porém, os protocolos caseiros foram mais eficientes em extrair DNA do que kits comerciais, sem perder nenhuma qualidade na pureza das amostras. Além disso, eles foram mais rápidos e baratos, chegando a custar dez vezes menos que os kits comerciais. O protocolo mais rápido, menos poluente e mais barato foi o descrito aqui (USD 0,52 por amostra).

Developing a rapid, efficient and low cost method for rapid DNA extraction from arthropods

Here, it is presented a rapid and efficient method to obtain good quality DNA from small samples of arthropod tissues generating low quantities of hazardous wastes. This new method was compared with another homemade protocol using phenol and other two commercial kits. The quality of DNA obtained was checked by spectrophotometer and evaluated by an AFLP assay. Low shearing DNA was obtained from all samples and the best readings were observed to DNA recollected with the new method. The AFLP assay indicated that DNA obtained with all methods were suitable for use in molecular biology techniques sensitive to contaminants. However, homemade protocols were more efficient in recollect DNA than commercial kits, without lose any quality of samples. Also, they were less time and fund consuming, with costs ten times cheaper than commercial kits. The quicker, less pollutant and cheaper protocol was the one described here (USD 0.52 per sample).

Aqui, é apresentado um método rápido e eficiente para obtenção de DNA de boa qualidade a partir de pequenas amostras de tecidos de artrópodos, gerando pequenas quantidades de resíduos perigosos. Comparamos a eficiência do método com outro protocolo caseiro utilizando fenol e com dois kits comerciais. A qualidade do DNA obtido foi verificada em espectrofotômetro e avaliada por um ensaio de AFLP. Foi obtido DNA pouco fragmentado a partir de todas as amostras, mas as melhores leituras foram obtidas para o DNA extraído com o novo método. O ensaio de AFLP indicou que os DNAs obtidos estavam adequados para uso em técnicas de biologia molecular sensíveis a contaminantes. Porém, os protocolos caseiros foram mais eficientes em extrair DNA do que kits comerciais, sem perder nenhuma qualidade na pureza das amostras. Além disso, eles foram mais rápidos e baratos, chegando a custar dez vezes menos que os kits comerciais. O protocolo mais rápido, menos poluente e mais barato foi o descrito aqui (USD 0,52 por amostra).