Historic DNA for taxonomy and conservation: A case-study of a century-old Hawaiian hawkmoth type (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

Analysing historic DNA from museum specimens offers the unique opportunity to study the molecular systematics and phylogenetics of rare and possibly extinct taxa. In the Hawaiian fauna, the hawkmoth, Hyles calida calida, occurs on several of the main islands and is quite frequent, whereas Hyles c. h...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2017-03, Vol.12 (3), p.e0173255-e0173255
Main Authors: Hundsdoerfer, Anna K, Kitching, Ian J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Analysis
Animals
Arthropods
Biological specimens
Biology and Life Sciences
Calida
Califia calida
Case reports
Computer and Information Sciences
Conservation
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
DNA, Mitochondrial
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Endangered & extinct species
Evolution
Evolution, Molecular
Extinction
Fauna
Female
Gene sequencing
Genetic aspects
Genetic Variation
Hyles
Hyles calida calida
Hyles calida hawaiiensis
Lepidoptera
Life sciences
Male
Mitochondrial DNA
Molecular biology
Moths - classification
Moths - genetics
Museums
Natural history
Nucleotide sequence
Open access
Pelodiscus sinensis
Phylogenetics
Phylogeny
Protection and preservation
Research and Analysis Methods
Sphingidae
Studies
Systematics
Taxa
Taxonomic revision
Taxonomy
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Summary:Analysing historic DNA from museum specimens offers the unique opportunity to study the molecular systematics and phylogenetics of rare and possibly extinct taxa. In the Hawaiian fauna, the hawkmoth, Hyles calida calida, occurs on several of the main islands and is quite frequent, whereas Hyles c. hawaiiensis is restricted to the Island of Hawaii where it appears to be very rare. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences shows that Hyles c. hawaiiensis differs from the nominotypical subspecies by an average p-distance of 2.8%, which is of a similar order of magnitude to that found between other species of Hyles, suggesting that Hyles c. hawaiiensis should perhaps be awarded species status, although more data are required for a formal taxonomic revision. Given the rarity of this taxon, these analyses should be undertaken urgently so that conservation measures can be implemented before it becomes extinct.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0173255