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Identifying chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) for biological monitoring with PCR–RFLP

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

M.E. Carew ,
V. Pettigrove  and
A.A. Hoffmann
M.E. Carew*
Affiliation:
Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3084, Australia
V. Pettigrove
Affiliation:
Research and Technology, Melbourne Water Corporation, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
A.A. Hoffmann
Affiliation:
Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3084, Australia
*
*Fax: +61 3 9479 2361 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Chironomids are excellent biological indicators for the health of aquatic ecosystems, but their use at finer taxonomic levels is hindered by morphological similarity of species at each life stage. Molecular markers have the potential to overcome these problems by facilitating species identification particularly in large-scale surveys. In this study, the potential of the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) approach was tested to rapidly distinguish among chironomids within a geographic area, by considering chironomid species from Melbourne, Australia. By comparing molecular markers with diagnostic morphological traits, RFLP profiles of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) region were identified that were specific to genera and some common species. These profiles were used to develop an RFLP–based key, which was validated by testing the markers on samples from several wetlands and streams. As well as allowing for rapid identification of species that are difficult to separate on morphological grounds, this approach also has the potential to resolve current taxonomic ambiguities.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 93 , Issue 6 , December 2003 , pp. 483 - 490
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

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