Nucleic acids were extracted using Promega SV total RNA isolation mini-kits either with or without DNase digestion. Following DNase digestion, the RNA-only preps were subjected to poly-A selection and indexed library construction. The remaining extracts of total nucleic acids were used to produce cDNAs with low-input Clontech kits for either poly-dT priming (SMARTer Ultra Low input RNA kit Đv3, #634849) or universal priming (#634940). Following shearing to 200-bp size with a Covaris instrument, cDNA fragments were used for indexed library construction (Clontech kit #634947 for low input). Libraries were left unnormalized so as to favor highly expressed genes likely to be present in most species and all life stages.