Abstract
This study examines the performance of DNA barcodes (mt cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene) in the identification of 1004 species of Lepidoptera shared by two localities (Finland, Austria) that are 1600 km apart. Maximum intraspecific distances for the pooled data were less than 2% for 880 species (87.6%), while deeper divergence was detected in 124 species. Despite such variation, the overall DNA barcode library possessed diagnostic COI sequences for 98.8% of the taxa. Because a reference library based on Finnish specimens was highly effective in identifying specimens from Austria, we conclude that barcode libraries based on regional sampling can often be effective for a much larger area. Moreover, dispersal ability (poor, good) and distribution patterns (disjunct, fragmented, continuous, migratory) had little impact on levels of intraspecific geographic divergence. Furthermore, the present study revealed that, despite the intensity of past taxonomic work on European Lepidoptera, nearly 20% of the species shared by Austria and Finland require further work to clarify their status. Particularly discordant BIN (Barcode Index Number) cases should be checked to ascertain possible explanatory factors such as incorrect taxonomy, hybridization, introgression, and Wolbachia infections.
Highlights
Animal DNA barcodes are based on a 648 base pair segment near the 59 terminus of the mitochondrial COI gene
DNA barcoding [1, 2] has quickly gained adoption because of its effectiveness for species identification in many different groups [2, 3, 4, 5]. It has become widely used in taxonomy as reflected, for example, by national and regional DNA barcoding initiatives in European nations including Austria, Finland, Germany, Norway and Switzerland, efforts contributing to the International Barcode of Life Project which is building barcode coverage for all multicellular species
More than 3.4M barcode sequences from more than 350K species of animals, plants and fungi are currently available on BOLD (Barcode of Life Data Systems - www.boldsystems.org), it remains critical to understand the level of barcode coverage required to develop an effective identification system
Summary
Animal DNA barcodes are based on a 648 base pair segment near the 59 terminus of the mitochondrial COI gene (cytochrome c oxidase 1). DNA barcoding [1, 2] has quickly gained adoption because of its effectiveness for species identification in many different groups [2, 3, 4, 5]. Work on two genera of aquatic beetles has suggested that a detailed understanding of intra- and interspecific variation is needed to guide species identifications, requiring the analysis of tens of specimens across the range of each species [7]. If these results reflect a general situation, they indicate that the development of an effective DNA barcode reference library will require extensive parameterization
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