Spider Web DNA: A New Spin on Noninvasive Genetics of Predator and Prey.
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 26606730.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0142503 and PMC identifier 4659541.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Noninvasive genetic sampling enables biomonitoring without the need to directly observe or disturb target organisms. This paper describes a novel and promising source of noninvasive spider and insect DNA from spider webs. Using black widow spiders (Latrodectus spp.) fed with house crickets (Acheta domesticus), we successfully extracted, amplified, and sequenced mitochondrial DNA from spider web samples that identified both spider and prey to species. Detectability of spider DNA did not differ between assays with amplicon sizes from 135 to 497 base pairs. Spider and prey DNA remained detectable at least 88 days after living organisms were no longer present on the web. Spider web DNA as a proof-of-concept may open doors to other practical applications in conservation research, pest management, biogeography studies, and biodiversity assessments.
Medical subject headings
- Black Widow Spider
- DNA
- Fibroins
- Gryllidae
- Polymerase Chain Reaction