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Meier R, Hartop E, Pylatiuk C, Srivathsan A. Towards holistic insect monitoring: species discovery, description, identification and traits for all insects. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230120. [PMID: 38705187 PMCID: PMC11070263 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Holistic insect monitoring needs scalable techniques to overcome taxon biases, determine species abundances, and gather functional traits for all species. This requires that we address taxonomic impediments and the paucity of data on abundance, biomass and functional traits. We here outline how these data deficiencies could be addressed at scale. The workflow starts with large-scale barcoding (megabarcoding) of all specimens from mass samples obtained at biomonitoring sites. The barcodes are then used to group the specimens into molecular operational taxonomic units that are subsequently tested/validated as species with a second data source (e.g. morphology). New species are described using barcodes, images and short diagnoses, and abundance data are collected for both new and described species. The specimen images used for species discovery then become the raw material for training artificial intelligence identification algorithms and collecting trait data such as body size, biomass and feeding modes. Additional trait data can be obtained from vouchers by using genomic tools developed by molecular ecologists. Applying this pipeline to a few samples per site will lead to greatly improved insect monitoring regardless of whether the species composition of a sample is determined with images, metabarcoding or megabarcoding. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Meier
- Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Emily Hartop
- Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NO-7491, Norway
| | - Christian Pylatiuk
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Amrita Srivathsan
- Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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Fernandes K, Bateman PW, Saunders BJ, Gibberd M, Bunce M, Bohmann K, Nevill P. Analysing the effects of distance, taxon and biomass on vertebrate detections using bulk-collected carrion fly iDNA. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231286. [PMID: 38577218 PMCID: PMC10987983 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) metabarcoding from carrion flies is a powerful, non-invasive tool that has value for assessing vertebrate diversity. However, unknowns exist around the factors that influence vertebrate detections, such as spatial limits to iDNA signals or if detections are influenced by taxonomic class or estimated biomass of the vertebrates of interest. Using a bulk-collection method, we captured flies from within a zoo and along transects extending 4 km away from this location. From 920 flies, we detected 28 vertebrate species. Of the 28 detected species, we identified 9 species kept at the zoo, 8 mammals and 1 bird, but no reptiles. iDNA detections were highly geographically localized, and only a few zoo animals were detected outside the zoo setting. However, due to the low number of detections in our dataset, we found no influence of the taxonomic group or the estimated biomass of animals on their detectability. Our data suggest that iDNA detections from bulk-collected carrion flies, at least in urban settings in Australia, are predominantly determined by geographic proximity to the sampling location. This study presents an important step in understanding how iDNA techniques can be used in biodiversity monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Fernandes
- Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
- Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Food Agility CRC Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales2000, Australia
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin9016, New Zealand
| | - Philip W. Bateman
- Behavioural Ecology Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
- MBioMe - Mine Site Biomonitoring using eDNA Research Group, Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
| | - Benjamin J. Saunders
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
| | - Mark Gibberd
- Food Agility CRC Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales2000, Australia
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
| | - Michael Bunce
- Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
- Environmental Science and Research (ESR), Porirua5022, New Zealand
| | - Kristine Bohmann
- Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paul Nevill
- MBioMe - Mine Site Biomonitoring using eDNA Research Group, Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
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Owings CG, Banerjee A, Picard CJ. Temporal population genetic structure of Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023:tjad115. [PMID: 37862592 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
The genetic structure of forensically important blow fly (Brauer & Bergenstamm) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) populations has remained elusive despite high relatedness within wild-caught samples. This research aimed to determine if the implementation of a high-resolution spatiotemporal sampling design would reveal latent genetic structure among blow fly populations and to elucidate any environmental impacts on observed patterns of genetic structure. Adult females of the black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), were collected from 9 urban parks in Indiana, USA over 3 yr and genotyped at 6 polymorphic microsatellite loci. The data analysis involved 3 clustering methods: principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC), and STRUCTURE. While the PCoA did not uncover any discernible clustering patterns, the DAPC and STRUCTURE analyses yielded significant results, with 9 and 4 genetic clusters, respectively. Visualization of the STRUCTURE bar plot revealed N = 11 temporal demarcations indicating barriers to gene flow. An analysis of molecular variance of these STRUCTURE-inferred populations supported strong temporally driven genetic differentiation (FST = 0.048, F'ST = 0.664) relative to geographic differentiation (FST = 0.009, F'ST = 0.241). Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation and Boosted Regression Tree analyses revealed that collection timepoint and 4 main abiotic factors (temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind speed) were associated with the genetic subdivisions observed for P. regina. A complex interplay between environmental conditions, the unique reproductive strategies of the blow fly, and the extensive dispersal abilities of these organisms likely drives the strong genetic structure of P. regina in the Midwestern US.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charity G Owings
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, 2505 E. J. Chapman Dr., Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 723 W Michigan Street, SL 306, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Aniruddha Banerjee
- Department of Geography, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 425 University Boulevard, Cavanaugh Hall 441, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Christine J Picard
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 723 W Michigan Street, SL 306, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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Lee PS, Dong MH, Yan XL, He TY, Yu SF, Wee SL, Wilson JJ. Blowfly-derived mammal DNA as mammal diversity assessment tool: Determination of dispersal activity and flight range of tropical blowflies. Biodivers Data J 2023; 11:e108438. [PMID: 37736305 PMCID: PMC10509675 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.11.e108438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian DNA extracted from the invertebrates, especially blowfly-derived DNA, has been suggested as a useful tool to complement traditional field methods for terrestrial mammal monitoring. However, the accuracy of the estimated location of the target mammal detected from blowfly-derived DNA is largely dependent on the knowledge of blowflies' dispersal range. Presently, published data on adult blowfly dispersal capabilities remain scarce and mostly limited to temperate and subtropical regions, with no published report on the adult blowfly dispersal range in the Tropics. We seek to determine the blowfly flight range and dispersal activity in a tropical plantation in Malaysia by mark-release-recapture of approximately 3000 wild blowflies by use of rotten fish-baited traps for nine consecutive days. Out of the 3000 marked Chrysomya spp., only 1.5% (43) were recaptured during the 9-day sampling period. The majority of the blowflies (79%) were recaptured 1 km from the release point, while 20.9% were caught about 2-3 km from the release point. One individual blowfly travelled as far as 3 km and before being recaptured, which was the maximum dispersal distance recorded in this study. This result suggests that the estimated locations of the mammals detected from blowfly-derived iDNA is likely to be within 1-2 km radius from the origin of the blowfly sampling location. However, a more accurate estimated distance between the target mammal and the blowfly sampling location requires further investigation due to various factors, such as blowfly species, wind speed and direction that may potentially affect the blowfly dispersal activities. This study contributes further understanding on the development of a blowfly-derived DNA method as a mammalian monitoring tool in the tropical forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Shin Lee
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal UniversityWuhu 241000, AnhuiChina
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, ChinaAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal UniversityWuhu 241000, AnhuiChina
| | - Min Hui Dong
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal UniversityWuhu 241000, AnhuiChina
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, ChinaAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal UniversityWuhu 241000, AnhuiChina
| | - Xin Lei Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal UniversityWuhu 241000, AnhuiChina
| | - Tian Yi He
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal UniversityWuhu 241000, AnhuiChina
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, ChinaAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal UniversityWuhu 241000, AnhuiChina
| | - Shang Fei Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal UniversityWuhu 241000, AnhuiChina
| | - Suk Ling Wee
- Centre for Insect Systematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, MalaysiaCentre for Insect Systematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia43600 Bangi, SelangorMalaysia
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia43600 Bangi, SelangorMalaysia
| | - John James Wilson
- Vertebrate Zoology at World Museum, National Museums Liverpool, William Brown Street, Liverpool, United KingdomVertebrate Zoology at World Museum, National Museums Liverpool, William Brown StreetLiverpoolUnited Kingdom
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Stoffolano JG. Synanthropic Flies-A Review Including How They Obtain Nutrients, along with Pathogens, Store Them in the Crop and Mechanisms of Transmission. INSECTS 2022; 13:776. [PMID: 36135477 PMCID: PMC9500719 DOI: 10.3390/insects13090776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
An attempt has been made to provide a broad review of synanthropic flies and, not just a survey of their involvement in human pathogen transmission. It also emphasizes that the crop organ of calliphorids, sarcophagids, and muscids was an evolutionary development and has served and assisted non-blood feeding flies in obtaining food, as well as pathogens, prior to the origin of humans. Insects are believed to be present on earth about 400 million years ago (MYA). Thus, prior to the origin of primates, there was adequate time for these flies to become associated with various animals and to serve as important transmitters of pathogens associated with them prior to the advent of early hominids and modern humans. Through the process of fly crop regurgitation, numerous pathogens are still readily being made available to primates and other animals. Several studies using invertebrate-derived DNA = iDNA meta-techniques have been able to identify, not only the source the fly had fed on, but also if it had fed on their feces or the animal's body fluids. Since these flies are known to feed on both vertebrate fluids (i.e., from wounds, saliva, mucus, or tears), as well as those of other animals, and their feces, identification of the reservoir host, amplification hosts, and associated pathogens is essential in identifying emerging infectious diseases. New molecular tools, along with a focus on the crop, and what is in it, should provide a better understanding and development of whether these flies are involved in emerging infectious diseases. If so, epidemiological models in the future might be better at predicting future epidemics or pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Stoffolano
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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Dowling SN, Skaggs CL, Owings CG, Moctar K, Picard CJ, Manicke NE. Insects as Chemical Sensors: Detection of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants and Hydrolysis Products in the Blow Fly Using LC-MS/MS. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:3535-3543. [PMID: 35188758 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this work, blow flies were investigated as environmental chemical sample collectors following a chemical warfare attack (CWA). Blow flies sample the environment as they search for water and food sources and can be trapped from kilometers away using baited traps. Three species of blow flies were exposed to CWA simulants to determine the persistence and detectability of these compounds under varying environmental conditions. A liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to detect CWA simulants and hydrolysis products from fly guts. Flies were exposed to the CWA simulants dimethyl methylphosphonate and diethyl phosphoramidate as well as the pesticide dichlorvos, followed by treatment-dependent temperature and humidity conditions. Flies were sacrificed at intervals within a 14 day postexposure period. Fly guts were extracted and analyzed with the LC-MS/MS method. The amount of CWA simulant in fly guts decreased with time following exposure but were detectable 14 days following exposure, giving a long window of detectability. In addition to the analysis of CWA simulants, isopropyl methylphosphonic acid, the hydrolysis product of sarin, was also detected in blow flies 14 days post exposure. This work demonstrates the potential to obtain valuable samples from remote or access-restricted areas without risking lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Dowling
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - Christine L Skaggs
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - Charity G Owings
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
- Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Khadija Moctar
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - Christine J Picard
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - Nicholas E Manicke
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
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Owings CG, Gilhooly WP, Picard CJ. Blow fly stable isotopes reveal larval diet: A case study in community level anthropogenic effects. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249422. [PMID: 33852607 PMCID: PMC8046228 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Response to human impacts on the environment are typically initiated too late to remediate negative consequences. We present the novel use of stable isotope analysis (SIA) of blow flies to determine human influences on vertebrate communities in a range of human-inhabited environments, from a pristine national park to a dense metropolitan area. The refrain "you are what you eat" applies to the dietary isotope record of all living organisms, and for carrion-breeding blow flies, this translates to the type of carcasses present in an environment. Specifically, we show that carnivore carcasses make up a large proportion of the adult fly's prior larval diet, which contrasts to what has been reportedly previously for the wild adult fly diet (which consists of mostly herbivore resources). Additionally, we reveal the potential impact of human food on carcasses that were fed on by blow flies, underscoring the human influences on wild animal populations. Our results demonstrate that using SIA in conjunction with other methods (e.g., DNA analysis of flies) can reveal a comprehensive snapshot of the vertebrate community in a terrestrial ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charity G. Owings
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - William P. Gilhooly
- Department of Earth Sciences, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Christine J. Picard
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
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Malejko J, Deoniziak K, Tomczuk M, Długokencka J, Godlewska-Żyłkiewicz B. Puparial Cases as Toxicological Indicators: Bioaccumulation of Cadmium and Thallium in the Forensically Important Blowfly Lucilia sericata. Front Chem 2020; 8:586067. [PMID: 33330373 PMCID: PMC7716273 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.586067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we present entomotoxicological data on the accumulation of cadmium and thallium in a forensically important blowfly, Lucilia sericata, and evaluate the reliability and utility of such information as toxicological evidence for poisoning as a cause of death. We observed that Cd and Tl content in different growing stages of L. sericata (larvae, puparial cases, and adults) was increasing with increasing metal concentration in the feeding substrate, namely metal-enriched liver. However, patterns of accumulation differed between the two metals investigated, showing a linear relationship for Cd and a saturable pattern for Tl. For cadmium, the highest bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was found in the larval stage (in the range of 0.20–0.25), while for thallium, puparial cases accumulated more metal than the other stages tested (BAF in the range of 0.24–0.42). Thallium was also observed to have a negative effect on larval growth, resulting in lower weight and smaller puparial size. With this study, we update the information on the bioaccumulation of cadmium in forensically important blowflies and provide the first report on the bioaccumulation of thallium as well as its developmental impact in blowflies. Specifically, our results suggest that analysis of puparial cases could yield useful information for entomotoxicological investigations. The content of Cd and Tl in larvae, puparial cases, and adults of L. sericata was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The validation parameters of the method such as sensitivity, detection limits, quantification limits, precision, and accuracy were evaluated. The method detection limit (MDL) for all types of samples was in the range of 1.6–3.4 ng g−1 for Cd and 0.034–0.15 ng g−1 for Tl, and the accuracy of the method was confirmed by a high recovery of metals from certified reference materials (91.3% for Cd and 94.3% for Tl).
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Affiliation(s)
- Julita Malejko
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Deoniziak
- Laboratory of Insect Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Marlena Tomczuk
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Joanna Długokencka
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
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