Origin and diversification of endemic tarantulas of Western Ghats

Methods

Summary

Large part of the project is lab work however, field trips will be carried out in the state of Tamil Nadu from where two species are reported which have never been found after their description. 

Molecular work: Muscle tissue from legs of all known species and specimens from museums and personal collection, will be used to extract genomic DNA using standard DNA extraction kits. Two nuclear genes (hiistone 3 & EF1-alpha) and one mitochondrial barcoding gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) will be amplified using published primers. The sequences generated will be used to assess phylogenetic relationship and CO1 sequences will be used to help delimit species. 

Challenges

No risk or challenges anticipated. 

Pre Analysis Plan

The Western Ghats (WG) are divided into four regions based on its floral elements: norther WG, central WG, nilgiris, and southern WG. It is likely that similar tarantula species across these zones have different evolutionary history.. My aim is to indentify geographic barriers for gene flow in tarantulas of sub-family Thrigmopoeinae, are Thrigmopoeinae Gondwanan in origin, and do each of these regions of WG classified based on floral composition represent distinct tarantula lineages.