Molecular and microscopic analysis of the gut contents of abundant rove beetle species (Coleoptera Staphylinidae) in the boreal balsam fir forest of Quebec Canada

摘要

Experimental research on beetle responses to removal of logging residues following clearcut harvesting in the boreal balsam fir forest of Quebec revealed several abundant rove beetle (Staphylinidae) species potentially important for long-term monitoring. To understand the trophic affiliations of these species in forest ecosystems, it was necessary to analyze their gut contents. We used microscopic and molecular (DNA) methods to identify the gut contents of the following rove beetles: Atheta capsularis Klimaszewski, Atheta klagesi Bernhauer, Oxypoda grandipennis (Casey), Bryophacis smetanai Campbell, Ischnosoma longicorne (Mäklin), Mycetoporus montanus Luze, Tachinus frigidus Erichson, Tachinus fumipennis (Say), Tachinus quebecensis Robert, and Pseudopsis subulata Herman. We found no apparent arthropod fragments within the guts; however, a number of fungi were identified by DNA sequences, including filamentous fungi and budding yeasts [Ascomycota: Candida derodonti Suh & Blackwell (accession number ), Candida mesenterica (Geiger) Diddens & Lodder (accession number ), Candida railenensis Ramirez and Gonzáles (accession number ), Candida sophie-reginae Ramirez & González (accession number ), Candida sp. (accession number ), Pichia delftensis Beech (accession number ), Pichia membranifaciens Hansen (accession number JQ26345), Pichia misumaiensis Y. Sasaki and Tak. Yoshida ex Kurtzman 2000 (accession number ), Pichia sp. (accession number ), Cladosporium sp. (accession number ), Acremoniumpsammosporum W. Gams (accession number ), Alternaria sp. (accession number ), Aspergillus versicolor Bubak (accession number ), and Aspergillusamstelodami (L. Mangin) Thom and Church (accession number )]. In addition, two species of bacteria [Bradyrhizobium japonicum (Kirchner) Jordan (accession number ) and Serratia marcescens Bizio accession number ] were found in the guts. These results not only provide evidence of the consumer-resource relations of these beetles but also clarify the relationship between rove beetles, woody debris and fungi. Predominance of yeast-feeding by abundant rove beetles suggests that it may play an important role in their dietary requirements.