Abstract
DNA barcoding protocols require the linkage of each sequence record to a voucher specimen that has, whenever possible, been authoritatively identified. Natural history collections would seem an ideal resource for barcode library construction, but they have never seen large-scale analysis because of concerns linked to DNA degradation. The present study examines the strength of this barrier, carrying out a comprehensive analysis of moth and butterfly (Lepidoptera) species in the Australian National Insect Collection. Protocols were developed that enabled tissue samples, specimen data, and images to be assembled rapidly. Using these methods, a five-person team processed 41,650 specimens representing 12,699 species in 14 weeks. Subsequent molecular analysis took about six months, reflecting the need for multiple rounds of PCR as sequence recovery was impacted by age, body size, and collection protocols. Despite these variables and the fact that specimens averaged 30.4 years old, barcode records were obtained from 86% of the species. In fact, one or more barcode compliant sequences (>487 bp) were recovered from virtually all species represented by five or more individuals, even when the youngest was 50 years old. By assembling specimen images, distributional data, and DNA barcode sequences on a web-accessible informatics platform, this study has greatly advanced accessibility to information on thousands of species. Moreover, much of the specimen data became publically accessible within days of its acquisition, while most sequence results saw release within three months. As such, this study reveals the speed with which DNA barcode workflows can mobilize biodiversity data, often providing the first web-accessible information for a species. These results further suggest that existing collections can enable the rapid development of a comprehensive DNA barcode library for the most diverse compartment of terrestrial biodiversity – insects.
Highlights
Millions of eukaryote species await description, revealing the need for approaches which support accelerated species discovery and description [1]
Even if collections possess a workforce dedicated to digitization, specimen images and collateral data deriving from new species lack an organizational framework
DNA barcoding provides the opportunity to couple digital specimen data with DNA sequences, enabling the aggregation of specimen records likely to derive from a single species, even those that are undescribed
Summary
Millions of eukaryote species await description, revealing the need for approaches which support accelerated species discovery and description [1]. Without formal documentation, these species-in-waiting contribute nothing towards a deeper understanding of the distributional patterns and diversity of the Australian fauna – information of high importance to both research and conservation This project was conducted within the context of the International Barcode of Life Project (iBOL; http://ibol.org) which is assembling DNA barcode records for 100,000 species of Lepidoptera as part of its overall goal of delivering coverage for 500,000 animal and plant species by 2015. The construction of this sequence library for the 59 segment of the cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) gene will provide both a platform for automated identifications and a simplified protocol for the validation of provisional species. A companion paper will discuss the sequence dataset and consider its implications for the systematics, biogeography, and species diversity of the Australian fauna
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