scholarly journals BARCODE TAXONOMY AT THE GENUS LEVEL

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 17-37
Author(s):  
Rainer Breitling

DNA barcode sequencing has rapidly become one of the most powerful tools for biodiversity assessments. Beyond its original uses for the identification of animal species, including the discovery of cryptic diversity in difficult taxonomic groups, the growing public sequence datasets also offer opportunities for more wide-ranging applications. This contribution shows how barcode data can provide useful complementary information to assist taxonomic decision making at the genus level. An analysis of public barcode datasets for 10 diverse spider families, covering more than 3400 species and morphospecies, reveals numerous examples where sequence similarities either strongly support or convincingly refute recent controversial genus assignments. The following nomenclatorial changes are suggested based on a combined assessment of morphological evidence and the barcode analysis: Acantholycosa = Pardosa (syn. nov.); Piratula = Pirata (syn. nov.); Pulchellodromus, Philodromimus, Tibellomimus, Artanes, and Emargidromus = subgenera of Philodromus (stat. nov.); Cryptachaea riparia = Parasteatoda riparia (comb. nov.); Ohlertidion = Heterotheridion (syn. nov.); Saaristoa = Aphileta (syn. nov.); Aphileta microtarsa = Eulaira microtarsa (comb. conf.); Centromerita and Tallusia = Centromerus (syn. conf.); Obscuriphantes, Agnyphantes, and Acanthoneta = Poeciloneta (syn. nov.); Bolyphantes bipartitus = Poeciloneta bipartita (comb. nov.); Anguliphantes, Improphantes, Piniphantes, and Mansuphantes = Oryphantes (syn. nov.), Palliduphantes antroniensis = Oryphantes antroniensis (comb. nov.), Lepthyphantes nodifer = Oryphantes nodifer (comb. nov.), Hypositticus, Sittipub, Calositticus, Sittisax, Sittiflor, and Attulus = Sitticus (syn. nov.).

Botany ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (7) ◽  
pp. 639-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary W. Saunders ◽  
Brian McDonald

The DNA barcode (COI-5P) was used to investigate cryptic diversity among Rhodymenia spp. in southern Australia. Whereas eight species are currently recognized, we uncovered ca. 20 genetic species groups, phylogenetically assigned to four genera in two families. Procumbent specimens with molecular and anatomical signatures of the Fryeellaceae are assigned to Pseudohalopeltis tasmanensis gen. et sp. nov. Collections from Lord Howe Island recorded in the field as Rhodymenia / Fauchea sp. are assigned to the poorly known genus Microphyllum as Microphyllum robustum sp. nov. A cluster of species with distinct molecular and anatomical attributes is included in a resurrected Halopeltis J.G. Agardh, including Halopeltis australis (J. Agardh) comb. nov. (type species); Halopeltis austrina (Womersley) comb. nov.; Halopeltis cuneata (Harvey) comb. nov. [including Rhodymenia halymenioides (J. Agardh) Womersley]; Halopeltis gracilis sp. nov.; Halopeltis prostrata sp. nov.; and Halopeltis verrucosa (Womersley) comb. nov. Four additional species of Halopeltis from Lord Howe Island (LH1, LH2), Tasmania (TAS), and Western Australia are not characterized further. For Rhodymenia sensu stricto, similar levels of cryptic diversity were noted. Samples tentatively field-identified as “ Rhodymenia sonderi ,” but having affiliations to Rhodymenia rather than Halopeltis, are referred to Rhodymenia novahollandica sp. nov. Collections field-identified as R. obtusa are genetically distinct from that species and are assigned to Rhodymenia wilsonis (Sonder) comb. nov. Two highly divergent species currently identified as Rhodymenia leptophylla (LH from Lord Howe Island; TAS from Tasmania), as well as two additional cryptic previously unnamed taxa from South Australia (SA) and Victoria (VIC), are not characterized further.


NeoBiota ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 151-165
Author(s):  
Francesco Zangaro ◽  
Benedetta Saccomanno ◽  
Eftychia Tzafesta ◽  
Fabio Bozzeda ◽  
Valeria Specchia ◽  
...  

The biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea is currently threatened by the introduction of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS). Therefore, monitoring the distribution of NIS is of utmost importance to preserve the ecosystems. A promising approach for the identification of species and the assessment of biodiversity is the use of DNA barcoding, as well as DNA and eDNA metabarcoding. Currently, the main limitation in the use of genomic data for species identification is the incompleteness of the DNA barcode databases. In this research, we assessed the availability of DNA barcodes in the main reference libraries for the most updated inventory of 665 confirmed NIS in the Mediterranean Sea, with a special focus on the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) barcode and primers. The results of this study show that there are no barcodes for 33.18% of the species in question, and that 45.30% of the 382 species with COI barcode, have no primers publicly available. This highlights the importance of directing scientific efforts to fill the barcode gap of specific taxonomic groups in order to help in the effective application of the eDNA technique for investigating the occurrence and the distribution of NIS in the Mediterranean Sea.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ravignani ◽  
Sonja Kotz

Increasing empirical research shows a deep connection between timing processes and neural processing of social information. An integrative theoretical framework for prospective studies in humans was recently proposed, linking timing to sociality. A similar framework guiding research in non-human animals is desirable, ideally encompassing as many taxonomic groups and sensory modalities as possible in order to embrace the diversity of social and timing behaviour across species. Here we expand on a previous theoretical account, introducing this debate to animal behaviour. We suggest adopting an evolutionary perspective on social timing in animals: i.e. a comparative approach to probe the link between temporal and social behaviour across a broad range of animal species. This approach should advance our understanding of animal social timing that is, how social behaviour and timing are mutually affected, and possibly of its evolutionary history in our own lineage. We conclude by identifying outstanding questions and testable hypotheses in animal social timing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juha Salokannel ◽  
Kyung Min Lee ◽  
Aki Rinne ◽  
Marko Mutanen

Abstract Large-scale global efforts on DNA barcoding have repeatedly revealed unexpected patterns of variability in mtDNA, including deep intraspecific divergences and haplotype sharing between species. Understanding the evolutionary causes behind these patterns calls for insights from the nuclear genome. While building a near-complete DNA barcode library of Finnish caddisflies, a case of barcode-sharing and some cases of deep intraspecific divergences were observed. In this study, the Apatania zonella (Zetterstedt, 1840) group and three Limnephilus Leach, 1815 species were studied using double digest RAD sequencing (ddRAD-seq), morphology, and DNA barcoding. The results support the present species boundaries in the A. zonella group species. A morphologically distinct but mitogenetically nondistinct taxon related to parthenogenetic Apatania hispida (Forsslund, 1930) got only weak support for its validity as a distinct species. The morphology and genomic-scale data do not indicate cryptic diversity in any of the three Limnephilus species despite the observed deep intraspecific divergences in DNA barcodes. This demonstrates that polymorphism in mtDNA may not reflect cryptic diversity, but mitonuclear discordance due to other evolutionary causes.


Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1691 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. ALEX SMITH

The 5' end (Folmer or Barcode region) of cytochrome c oxidase 1 (CO1) has been proposed as the gene region of choice for a standardized animal DNA barcode (Hebert et al. 2003). Concerns have been raised regarding the decision to utilize this particular mitochondrial gene region as a barcode. Nevertheless, widely divergent taxonomic groups have reported success using CO1 for both species identification and discovery. The utility of CO1 for barcoding amphibians was raised early on (Vences, et al. 2005) and concerns for this group were reported widely (Waugh 2007)—although some considered that the reporting of the concerns outstripped the data that had been analyzed at that point (Smith et al. 2008). Indeed, our analysis of CO1 for a small group of Holarctic amphibians was neither more difficult to generate nor to analyze than for other groups where we have utilized the technique.


Genome ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle A. Ondrejicka ◽  
Kevin C. Morey ◽  
Robert H. Hanner

Medically important ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are often difficult to identify morphologically. A standardized, molecular approach using a 658 base pair DNA barcode sequence (from the 5′ region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene) was evaluated for its effectiveness in discriminating ticks in North America, with an emphasis on Canadian ticks. DNA barcodes were generated for 96 of 154 specimens representing 26 ixodid species. A genetic cluster analysis was performed on the barcode sequences, which separated specimens into haplogroups closely corresponding with morphologically identified species. The tree topology was further supported by a BIN analysis. COI sequences generated were found to have a mean maximum intraspecific divergence of 1.59% and a mean nearest neighbour divergence of 12.8%, indicating a significant “barcode gap”. This study also revealed possible cryptic diversity among specimens morphologically identified as Ixodes soricis and Ixodes texanus. A PCR-based test for Borrelia burgdorferi determined that 18.1% of Lyme-competent ticks in this study were positive. This study is also the first to record a B. burgdorferi-positive exoskeleton. In conclusion, DNA barcoding is a powerful tool that clinicians can use to determine the identification of tick specimens which can help them to suggest whether an attached tick is a potential health risk.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrián Mártinez-Marqués ◽  
Carlos Enrique Carleos ◽  
Eva García-Vazquez ◽  
Yaisel J. Borrell Pichs

Estuaries are amongst the most productive habitats in Earth, producing more organic materia than forests, meadows or agricultural lands. In addition, estuaries exhibit high, and precious, biodiversity levels. In this study an environmental DNA analysis of the two most important estuaries in Asturias (Cantabrian Coast, north Iberia) in terms of food production (Ría del Eo and Ría de Villaviciosa) was carried out. The objective was to monitor aquatic biodiversity and also to detect alien species that can be associated with anthropogenic activities (e.g.: aquaculture). To achieve these objectives, a metabarcoding methodology based in NGS (next generation sequencing) and the mitochondrial COI gene as a DNA Barcode was used. Results showed that this methodology was useful to detect the presence of three different non-native genera (Crepidula, Lymnaea, Macrobrachium) that are probably parasitating species cultured in these estuaries. It is true that Metabarcoding has still unsolved problems such as the lack of 100% universal primers and paucity of referenced sequences for some taxonomic groups in the databases. However, it represents already a powerful tool to manage the resources of these important ecosystems and to guarantee their long-term sustainailibity.


PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa E. Carew ◽  
Rhys A. Coleman ◽  
Ary A. Hoffmann

Background High throughput DNA sequencing of bulk invertebrate samples or metabarcoding is becoming increasingly used to provide profiles of biological communities for environmental monitoring. As metabarcoding becomes more widely applied, new reference DNA barcodes linked to individual specimens identified by taxonomists are needed. This can be achieved through using DNA extraction methods that are not only suitable for metabarcoding but also for building reference DNA barcode libraries. Methods In this study, we test the suitability of a rapid non-destructive DNA extraction method for metabarcoding of freshwater invertebrate samples. Results This method resulted in detection of taxa from many taxonomic groups, comparable to results obtained with two other tissue-based extraction methods. Most taxa could also be successfully used for subsequent individual-based DNA barcoding and taxonomic identification. The method was successfully applied to field-collected invertebrate samples stored for taxonomic studies in 70% ethanol at room temperature, a commonly used storage method for freshwater samples. Discussion With further refinement and testing, non-destructive extraction has the potential to rapidly characterise species biodiversity in invertebrate samples, while preserving specimens for taxonomic investigation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Lorenzi ◽  
Matilde Perrino ◽  
Giorgio Vallortigara

The ability to represent, discriminate, and perform arithmetic operations on discrete quantities (numerosities) has been documented in a variety of species of different taxonomic groups, both vertebrates and invertebrates. We do not know, however, to what extent similarity in behavioral data corresponds to basic similarity in underlying neural mechanisms. Here, we review evidence for magnitude representation, both discrete (countable) and continuous, following the sensory input path from primary sensory systems to associative pallial territories in the vertebrate brains. We also speculate on possible underlying mechanisms in invertebrate brains and on the role played by modeling with artificial neural networks. This may provide a general overview on the nervous system involvement in approximating quantity in different animal species, and a general theoretical framework to future comparative studies on the neurobiology of number cognition.


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