Abstract
Species identification represents a pivotal component for large-scale biodiversity studies and conservation planning but represents a challenge for many taxa when using morphological traits only. Consequently, alternative identification methods based on molecular markers have been proposed. In this context, DNA barcoding has become a popular and accepted method for the identification of unknown animals across all life stages by comparison to a reference library. In this review we examine the progress of barcoding studies for the Crustacea using the Web of Science data base from 2003 to 2014. All references were classified in terms of taxonomy covered, subject area (identification/library, genetic variability, species descriptions, phylogenetics, methods, pseudogenes/numts), habitat, geographical area, authors, journals, citations, and the use of the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD). Our analysis revealed a total number of 164 barcoding studies for crustaceans with a preference for malacostracan crustaceans, in particular Decapoda, and for building reference libraries in order to identify organisms. So far, BOLD did not establish itself as a popular informatics platform among carcinologists although it offers many advantages for standardized data storage, analyses and publication.
Highlights
The accurate diagnosis of species represents a pivotal component for many topics, including large-scale biodiversity studies and conservation planning
All references were classified in terms of taxonomy covered, subject area, habitat, geographical area, authors, journals, citations, and the use of the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD)
Our analysis revealed a total number of 164 barcoding studies for crustaceans with a preference for malacostracan crustaceans, in particular Decapoda, and for building reference libraries in order to identify organisms
Summary
The accurate diagnosis of species represents a pivotal component for many topics, including large-scale biodiversity studies and conservation planning. This approach requires a certain level of training in observing morphology and it usually leads to a narrow specialization in identifying organisms belonging to a restricted group of taxa (e.g. a carcinologist will likely have difficulties in identifying polychaetes and the other way around). A routine and correct morphological identification of many taxa can be challenging, time-consuming and typically requires highly trained specialists. This is especially true for larval stages, juveniles and females which are often not included in species descriptions, resulting in a quite difficult task of assigning correct species names to specimens. We observe a decline of taxonomists that are able to identify and characterize species of many taxa (e.g. de Carvalho et al 2007)
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