Failure of microsatellite"s cross-species amplification in common ground beetlePterostichus melanarius (Illiger)

In the present paper, we describe results of cross-species amplification of microsatellite loci in wing dimorphic carabid Pterostichus melanarius - model pecies for diverse ecological studies. In particular wing dimorphism determined genetically, with simple Mendelian fashion and discovery of brachyptery gene provides unique opportunities to study gene flow within metapopulation. One hundred individuals originating form nine island populations of Mamry Lake archipelago were studied. Using PCR primers from five different species of Carabidae, especially including closely related species - Pterostichus oblongopunctatus we failed to establish firm ground of population genetic tool for the beetle. We review works on crossspecies amplification in invertebrates and show that success of cross-species strategy among coleopteran species from different genus is rather highly doubtful. We present procedures and results that that might be of importance for ecologists tempted by scientific opportunities given by P. melanarius.