Traditional Morphological Methods Research Articles

Establishing an Interactive Sequence Database for Shiitake Cultivar Identification.

Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) hold significant cultural and economic value, particularly in Asia where they are extensively cultivated. The diversification of shiitake cultivars, driven by the need to adapt to various climatic conditions and cultivation methods, has resulted in over 200 distinct cultivars. Reliable identification of these cultivars is crucial for breeding, intellectual property protection, and effective genetic resource management. Traditional morphological methods are inadequate due to their subjectivity and labor-intensive nature. This study leverages nanopore high-throughput sequencing to comprehensively analyze the rDNA regions (SSU, ITS, LSU, IGS) of 41 shiitake strains from Taiwan's Bioresource Collection and Research Center (BCRC), comprising 5 wild strains, 33 commercial strains, and 3 wild-commercial hybrids. Our results identified the IGS1 region as the most variable and suitable for cultivar differentiation. Consequently, we developed an interactive online database (https://github.com/Raingel/ShiitakeIGS1) that integrates 317 IGS1 sequences from Taiwan, Japan, and China. This platform allows users to upload their IGS1 sequences and identify similar cultivars through a user-friendly interface, enhancing the precision and efficiency of shiitake cultivar identification.

Evaluating zooplankton species diversity using environmental DNA and bulk-DNA metabarcoding in the Ulleung Basin of the Southeastern Korean Peninsula in the summer

Accurately investigating the composition of zooplankton species is crucial for monitoring changes in marine ecosystems and assessing biodiversity. In this study, we utilized bulk DNA and environmental DNA metabarcoding in the Ulleung Basin, known for its high zooplankton species diversity among the seas surrounding the Korean Peninsula. Genomic DNA extracted from samples collected during three summer seasons in the survey area was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase I barcode region. We identified 350 species, which were three to six times more than those identified by traditional morphological methods. Furthermore, we observed significant differences in species composition and diversity between bulk DNA and eDNA samples. Notably, eDNA metabarcoding effectively detected species with high swimming ability and those that were difficult to capture using traditional sampling methods. This study underscores the significant impact of sampling methods on research outcomes in zooplankton species diversity studies and highlights the importance of integrating different sampling techniques. Specifically, it suggests the need for the active adoption of non-invasive methods, such as eDNA metabarcoding, for the comprehensive monitoring of diverse biological groups in marine ecosystems.

A DNA barcode reference library for the Tipulidae (Insecta, Diptera) of Germany.

Tipulidae, commonly known as true crane flies, represent one of the most species-rich dipteran families, boasting approximately 4,500 known species globally. Their larvae serve as vital decomposers across diverse ecosystems, prompting their frequent and close observation in biomonitoring programs. However, traditional morphological identification methods are laborious and time-consuming, underscoring the need for a comprehensive DNA barcode reference library to speed up species determination. In this study, we present the outcomes of the German Barcode of Life initiative focused on Tipulidae. Our DNA barcode library comprises 824 high-quality cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcodes encompassing 76 crane fly species, counting for ca. 54% of the German tipulid fauna. Our results significantly increased the number of European tipulid species available in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) by 14%. Additionally, the number of barcodes from European tipulid specimens more than doubled, with an increase of 118%, bolstering the DNA resource for future identification inquiries. Employing diverse species delimitation algorithms - including the multi-rate Poisson tree processes model (mPTP), Barcode Index Number assignments (BIN), Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP), and the TaxCI R-script - we successfully match 76-86% of the morphologically identified species. Further validation through neighbor-joining tree topology analysis and comparison with 712 additional European tipulid barcodes yield a remarkable 89% success rate for the species identification of German tipulids based on COI barcodes. This comprehensive DNA barcode dataset not only enhances species identification accuracy but also serves as a pivotal resource for ecological and biomonitoring studies, fostering a deeper understanding of crane fly diversity and distribution across terrestrial landscapes.

Molecular identification of Baylisascaris melis (Gedoelst, 1920) from the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) and ascarids from other wild carnivores in Kazakhstan.

The presence of gastrointestinal nematodes, including zoonotic ascarids, in wild canids, felids and mustelids as definitive hosts in Central Asian countries has been documented in many studies based on traditional morphological methods. In contrast, relevant data for the badger are scarce. The aim of this study was the molecular identification of ascarid nematodes from five wild carnivore species in different regions of Kazakhstan. A total of 211 adult ascarids were collected from gray wolves (Canis lupus, 8 of 83 infected with 2-6 Toxascaris leonina), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes, 26 of 53, with 2-8 Toxascaris leonina), corsac foxes (Vulpes corsac, 6 of 11, 3-6 Toxascaris leonina), lynx (Lynx lynx, 2 of 3, with 2-5 Toxocara cati) and badgers (Meles meles, 2 of 4, with 2-7 Baylisascaris melis). Genomic DNA was extracted from the worms and ribosomal DNA, including the first and second internal transcribed spacer genes, was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using specific oligonucleotide primers and then sequenced. Toxascaris leonina, but not Toxocara canis, was molecularly identified in the wild canids, Toxocara cati in the lynx and Baylisascaris melis in the badger. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree showed three distinct clades: the canid Toxascaris leonina was placed in one clade, Toxocara cati in another and Baylisascaris melis in a third. The study provides the world's first molecular data and phylogenetic analysis of Baylisascaris melis, identified for the second time since its description over 100 years ago. This species was shown to be genetically distinct from other Baylisascaris spp. (B. columnaris, B. procyonis, B. transfuga, B. devosi). The possible zoonotic significance of ascarids from wild carnivores is discussed in the light of conditions in Central Asia.

Robust mosquito species identification from diverse body and wing images using deep learning

Mosquito-borne diseases are a major global health threat. Traditional morphological or molecular methods for identifying mosquito species often require specialized expertise or expensive laboratory equipment. The use of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to identify mosquito species based on images may offer a promising alternative, but their practical implementation often remains limited. This study explores the applicability of CNNs in classifying mosquito species. It compares the efficacy of body and wing depictions across three image collection methods: a smartphone, macro-lens attached to a smartphone and a professional stereomicroscope. The study included 796 specimens of four morphologically similar Aedes species, Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. koreicus and Ae. japonicus japonicus. The findings of this study indicate that CNN models demonstrate superior performance in wing-based classification 87.6% (95% CI: 84.2–91.0) compared to body-based classification 78.9% (95% CI: 77.7–80.0). Nevertheless, there are notable limitations of CNNs as they perform reliably across multiple devices only when trained specifically on those devices, resulting in an average decline of mean accuracy by 14%, even with extensive image augmentation. Additionally, we also estimate the required training data volume for effective classification, noting a reduced requirement for wing-based classification compared to body-based methods. Our study underscores the viability of both body and wing classification methods for mosquito species identification while emphasizing the need to address practical constraints in developing accessible classification systems.Graphical abstract

Comparative analysis of complete chloroplast genomes of Synotis species (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) for identification and phylogenetic analysis

BackgroundThe Synotis (C. B. Clarke) C. Jeffrey & Y. L. Chen is an ecologically important genus of the tribe Senecioneae, family Asteraceae. Because most species of the genus bear similar morphology, traditional morphological identification methods are very difficult to discriminate them. Therefore, it is essential to develop a reliable and effective identification method for Synotis species. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp.) genomes of four Synotis species, S. cavaleriei (H.Lév.) C. Jeffrey & Y.L. Chen, S. duclouxii (Dunn) C. Jeffrey & Y.L. Chen, S. nagensium (C.B. Clarke) C. Jeffrey & Y.L. Chen and S. erythropappa (Bureau & Franch.) C. Jeffrey & Y. L. Chen had been sequenced using next-generation sequencing technology and reported here.ResultsThese four cp. genomes exhibited a typical quadripartite structure and contained the large single-copy regions (LSC, 83,288 to 83,399 bp), the small single-copy regions (SSC, 18,262 to 18,287 bp), and the inverted repeat regions (IR, 24,837 to 24,842 bp). Each of the four cp. genomes encoded 134 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 2 pseudogenes (ycf1 and rps19). The highly variable regions (trnC-GCA-petN, ccsA-psaC, trnE-UUC-rpoB, ycf1, ccsA and petN) may be used as potential molecular barcodes. The complete cp. genomes sequence of Synotis could be used as the potentially effective super-barcode to accurately identify Synotis species. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the four Synotis species were clustered into a monophyletic group, and they were closed to the Senecio, Crassocephalum and Dendrosenecio in tribe Senecioneae.ConclusionsThis study will be useful for further species identification, evolution, genetic diversity and phylogenetic studies within this genus Synotis and the tribe Senecioneae.

Exploring the interspecific relationships among Dendrobium species via electrochemical fingerprinting techniques

This study investigated the interspecific relationships among 29 Dendrobium species using electrochemical fingerprinting techniques. Differential pulse voltammetry was employed to record species-specific electrochemical profiles in both phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and acetic acid buffer solution (ABS). Distinct voltammetric patterns were observed for each species, with ABS yielding higher peak currents compared to PBS. On average, peak currents in ABS were 37.2 % ± 5.8 % higher than in PBS across all species. For example, D. nobile showed a peak current of 12.3 μA in ABS compared to 8.9 μA in PBS, a 38.2 % increase. Normalized two-dimensional plots of the electrochemical fingerprints served as unique signatures for species differentiation. Cluster analysis of the electrochemical data revealed phylogenetic relationships largely consistent with previous molecular studies, while also highlighting novel groupings. For instance, D. parishii and D. pulchellum formed separate branches, indicating distant relationships with other species. Common species such as D. officinale, D. nobile, D. primulinum, and D. loddigesii clustered together, confirming their close relationships. Interestingly, species from Sect. Dendrobium showed mixed clustering with species from four other sections, reflecting the genus's complex evolutionary history. While some inconsistencies with previous molecular phylogenetic studies were noted, such as the distant relationship between D. parishii and D. anosmum, the overall congruence between electrochemical and molecular data validates the potential of this approach. This study demonstrates that electrochemical fingerprinting, combined with appropriate data analysis techniques, can provide valuable insights into the taxonomic relationships and chemical diversity of Dendrobium species, offering a complementary tool to traditional morphological and molecular methods for plant systematics and conservation efforts.

Species Composition of a Small Mammal Community and Prevalence of Echinococcus spp. in the Alpine Pastoral Area of the Eastern Tibetan Plateau.

We aimed to investigate the species composition of a small mammal community and the prevalence of Echinococcus spp. in a typical endemic area of the Tibetan Plateau. One pika and five rodent species were identified based on the morphological characteristics of 1278 small mammal specimens collected during 2014-2019. Detection of Echinococcus DNA in tissue samples from small mammal specimens revealed that Ochotona curzoniae (pika, total prevalence: 6.02%, 26/432), Neodon fuscus (5.91%, 38/643), N. leucurus (2.50%, 3/120), and Alexandromys limnophilus (21.74%, 10/46) were infected by both E. multilocularis and E. shiquicus; Cricetulus longicaudatus (16.67%, 1/6) was infected by E. shiquicus; and no infection was detected in N. irene (0/15). Neodon fuscus and O. curzoniae were the two most abundant small mammal species. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of pika and the overall rodent species assemblage (6.26%, 53/846); however, the larger rodent populations suggested that more attention should be paid to their role in the transmission of echinococcosis in the wildlife reservoir, which has long been underestimated. Moreover, although DNA barcoding provides a more efficient method than traditional morphological methods for identifying large numbers of small mammal samples, commonly used barcodes failed to distinguish the three Neodon species in this study. The close genetic relationships between these species suggest the need to develop more powerful molecular taxonomic tools.

Benthic diatom eDNA metabarcoding for ecological assessment of an urban river: A comparison with morphological method

Benthic diatoms have been widely utilized for assessing the ecological status of rivers, due to their ability to reflect the environmental changes from natural and anthropogenic disturbance. However, the recognized limitations of traditional morphological method for diatom identification hinder its widespread application in local department monitoring and assessment efforts. Recently, eDNA metabarcoding methods have emerged as a promising alternative for efficient diatom identification. To reveal the feasibility of eDNA metabarcoding methods in diatom-based evaluation, this study comprehensively compared them with the traditional morphological method. The results revealed that eDNA metabarcoding effectively reflected diatom composition at genus but not species level. It recognized 80.4 % of genera identified morphologically through rbcL identification and 66.7 % through 18S rDNA identification. Despite species-level discrepancies in taxonomic composition, eDNA metabarcoding accurately indicated alpha diversity of diatoms, while also provided better illustration of beta diversity. Additionally, comparisons were performed in taxonomy-based and trait-based indices. It was suggested that no significance was observed between identification methods in any index. Linear regression analyses further supported rbcL identification as a preferred option over 18S rDNA identification due to its stronger congruency with morphological method. In all, this study presented two key suggestions: 1) rbcL identification is preferable to 18S rDNA identification in diatom taxonomy, and 2) eDNA metabarcoding is proposed to be a promising technique to assess river ecological status.

SedaDNA reveals mid-to late Holocene aquatic plant and algae changes in Luanhaizi Lake on the Tibetan Plateau

Aquatic plants and algae are the primary producers in lake ecosystems, providing the organic matter and oxygen necessary for the nutrients and energy of most organisms. Climatic and environmental changes may have irreversible impacts on aquatic plants and algae communities, while direct observation and experiments can only provide a short-term perspective. As a record of the long-term variation of the ecosystem, sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) could offer evidence about aquatic plants and algae change over extended time scales and improve the taxonomic resolution than the traditional morphology methods such as pollen and macrofossil. In this study, we employed metagenomics in sedaDNA from Luanhaizi Lake (northeastern Tibetan Plateau) since 8.2 cal kyr BP, to characterize the aquatic plant and algae communities' response to the climatic and environmental change over an extended historical timeline. The results demonstrate that during 8130–4620 cal yr BP, pondweed (Stuckenia) was the dominating aquatic plant in Luanhaizi Lake, with a generally low diversity of aquatic plants and algae. During 3670–2290 cal yr BP, Luanhaizi Lake had an increased diversity and triggered a shift from Stuckenia to Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum). During 1810–50 cal yr BP, with the warming process, cyanobacteria appeared and diversity peaked. Correlation and redundancy analyses show that this process might be related to climatic and environmental changes, such as decreased salinity, increased temperature, and higher water levels. Our results signify that aquatic plants and algae communities are sensitive to paleoclimatic and environmental change, in the context of global warming, the studies on the past dynamics of aquatic plants and algae will help predict the potential changes of the lake ecosystem on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau in the future.

Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Cymbidium Species (Orchidaceae) Based on the Potential DNA Barcodes matK, rbcL, psbA-trnH, and Internal Transcribed Spacer

Numerous Cymbidium species have significant commercial value globally due to their exotic ornamental flowers. Identifying Cymbidium species is challenging due to their similar shapes, which hinders their rational use and the conservation of germplasm resources. In the present study, firstly, four plastid loci (matK, rbcL, psbA-trnH, and atpF-atpH) and a nuclear locus (internal transcribed spacer, ITS) were initially examined to identify Cymbidium species. Secondly, we inferred the interspecific phylogeny of Cymbidium species using ITS sequences. All of these DNA regions, with the exception of atpF-atpH, could be readily amplified from Cymbidium, and the corresponding DNA sequences can be successfully obtained by sequencing. Our research demonstrated that ITS exhibited the highest intra- and interspecific divergences, the greatest barcoding gap, and the highest proportion of species identification. The phylogenetic analysis of Cymbidium species based on the ITS regions primarily corroborated the results obtained using traditional morphological methods. A comparative analysis of candidate DNA barcodes has shown that the ITS can be used not only for barcoding Cymbidium species but also for the phylogenetic analysis of Cymbidium.

The main venous vessels of the stomach of a Yorkshire pig in the age aspect

Currently, there are known pig breeds that are characterized by a high rate of growth and development, precocity, fertility, individual structural features, high productivity and economic profitability. The study and breeding of new pig breeds helps to thoroughly analyze the data obtained in comparative, species, age aspects with similar types of farm animals. This fact helps to make a reliable assessment of all economic factors, as well as to analyze the quality of products received from the pig industry. The study was conducted at the Department of Animal Anatomy of the St. Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine. Cadaveric material for the study was delivered to the Department of Animal Anatomy of the St. Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine from the pig breeding complex of the Leningrad Region. To achieve this task, traditional morphological research methods were used, namely: fine anatomical dissection with injection of latex vessels, photographing, vasorentgenography with injection of lead meerkat, morphometry in the "RadiAnt" program. The largest main vessels diverting blood from the pig's stomach are the splenic, left and right gastric veins. Ultimately, they are syntopically connected to the small omentum, passing between the leaves of which they open into the portal vein of the liver. The branch of the right gastric vein branches along the loose type, and the splenic and left gastric veins branch along the main one. When conducting a comparative analysis of the morphometric characteristics of the diameter, the splenic vein will prevail over the left and right gastric veins. The results of the study can be used by veterinary specialists, in particular surgeons, to establish operative access to the stomach of pigs.

Molecular Identification of the Diversity of Insects, Spiders, Lizards, Birds and Mammals of Tuensang District, Nagaland, India

ABSTRACT: DNA barcoding is a method of species identification that revolutionized the way we study and understand biodiversity. With advancements in molecular genetics and DNA sequence archives, it has become possible to use short DNA sequences to identify species, even when the specimens are difficult to distinguish by traditional morphological methods. In this article, we explore the utility of DNA barcoding in the Tuensang ecosystem of Nagaland, India and evaluate its effectiveness for species identification, informing ongoing conservation of populations and species. A total of 62 species, which included insects, spiders, lizards, birds and mammals, were collected from Tuensang areas of northeast India and identified using DNA barcodes. DNA was extracted from muscle tissue and PCR was done with two pairs of primers targeting the mitochondrial COI gene. Sanger sequencing was employed and the obtained sequences were analysed to identify the species and reconstruct the evolutionary relationships amongst them. Our results provided molecular characterization of species from Tuensang areas of Nagaland for the first time.

DNA Barcoding of Locusta migratoria manilensis (Orthoptera: Acrididae) Reveals Insights into the Species and Subspecies Differentiation

Abstract Accurate identification and classification of insect species, especially those with significant economic and ecological implications, have historically presented challenges. Migratory locusts, Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), are notorious for their destructive impact on crops. Traditional morphological methods often face limitations in distinguishing closely related species and require taxonomic expertise. However, the emergence of DNA barcoding as a powerful tool for species identification has revolutionized the field of entomology. DNA barcoding utilizes a standardized DNA sequence, a molecular barcode, which serves as a distinct genetic signature for rapid and accurate species identification. In this study, DNA barcoding techniques were employed to identify and differentiate the migratory locust subspecies manilensis, in both its solitary and gregarious forms, as well as to determine its phylogenetic relationship with other related species within the Acrididae family. GenBank reference sequences were used to identify the locusts at the molecular subspecies level. Although the COI marker did not exhibit significant differences between the solitary and migratory forms, it was valuable in resolving the identification of L. migratoria subspecies. This lack of significant differences may be attributed to limited genetic variation of COI at the subspecies level and substantial genetic similarities between the solitary and migratory forms, likely stemming from a recent common ancestor. Nonetheless, using COI remains beneficial for subspecies identification in migratory locusts.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Wolffia arrhiza and comparative genomic analysis with relative Wolffia species

Lemnoideae, commonly referred to as the duckweed, are aquatic plants found worldwide. Wolffia species are known for their extreme reduction in size and complexity, lacking both roots and leaves, and they hold the distinction of being the smallest plants among angiosperms. Interestingly, it belongs to the Araceae family, despite its apparent morphological differences from land plants in the same family. Traditional morphological methods have limitations in classifying these plants, making molecular-level information essential. The chloroplast genome of Wolffia arrhiza is revealed that a total length of 169,602 bp and a total GC content of 35.78%. It follows the typical quadripartite structure, which includes a large single copy (LSC, 92,172 bp) region, a small single copy (SSC, 13,686 bp) region, and a pair of inverted repeat (IR, 31,872 bp each) regions. There are 131 genes characterized, comprising 86 Protein-Coding Genes, 37 Transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Moreover, 48 simple sequence repeats and 32 long repeat sequences were detected. Comparative analysis between W. arrhiza and six other Lemnoideae species identified 12 hotspots of high nucleotide diversity. In addition, a phylogenetic analysis was performed using 14 species belonging to the Araceae family and one external species as an outgroup. This analysis unveiled W. arrhiza and Wolffia globosa as closely related sister species. Therefore, this research has revealed the complete chloroplast genome data of W. arrhiza, offering a more detailed understanding of its evolutionary position and phylogenetic categorization within the Lemnoideae subfamily.

The Morphological Differentiation and Evolutionary Origins of Artemia in China

Artemia is a genus of halophilic zooplanktons comprising bisexual and parthenogenetic forms, which is an important model for investigating adaption to hypersaline ecosystems. The genus Artemia in China comprises four species: A. sinica, A. tibetiana, A. franciscana and A. parthenogenetica. To investigate the evolutionary relationship of bisexual and parthenogenetic Artemia in China, we analyzed the morphometrics and phylogenetics among twenty-two geographical populations in China. We found significant morphological differentiation across different species and strains of Artemia in China, which exhibited a high level of intra-population variation. We also found overlaps in morphological characteristics between populations, which may raise challenges for the classification of Artemia species using traditional morphological methods. A. franciscana, which originated from various regions in America, was generally distributed along the Chinese coastlines through multiple human introductions. Additionally, native Asian clades split into Western and Eastern Lineages during the late Miocene due to the Himalayan orogeny. Within the Western Lineage, A. tibetiana can be grouped into three taxon units: A. tibeitiana, A. sorgeloosi and A. urmiana. We also found that the distribution and genetic structure of A. sinica were influenced by climate oscillations during the Pleistocene, which might play a pivotal role in driving the formation of parthenogenetic strains in the Eastern Lineage. Overall, our study provides new insight into invertebrate evolution under geographical and climatic impacts in hypersaline environments.

Comparative larval morphology and DNA barcodes of Kamimuria petasus Chen and Neoperla tuberculata Wu (Plecoptera: Perlidae)

The larval morphology of Perlidae is relatively understudied compared to that of their adult counterparts, making it challenging to identify species using traditional morphological methods. In this study, we describe and illustrate the larvae of two stonefly species, Kamimuria petasus Chen, 2019 and Neoperla tuberculata Wu, 1937, based on specimens collected from China. Despite sharing a close resemblance in external morphology, the larvae of K. petasus and N. tuberculata can be distinguished based on their color pattern, chaetotaxy, and details of mouthparts. In addition, we generated and compared two DNA barcoding sequences for these two larvae. The analysis revealed that while the two species share some similar sequences, they exhibit high sequence divergence, which can be used to aid in the identification of the two different species based on immature material. The larval morphology and DNA barcodes provided in this study will supplement the classification of Perlidae larvae, enabling their more accurate and reliable identification in both full-evidence phylogenetic studies and bio-monitoring practices in the field.

Cuticular chemical compounds of puparial cases of three forensically important blow flies from Egypt: potential for accurate identification and forensic investigations

AbstractThe distinct and species-specific chemical compounds found on the insect cuticle have demonstrated effectiveness in various applications, including species identification. Accurate identification of fly species becomes challenging when only damaged empty puparial cases are available, making it difficult to use traditional morphological and molecular identification methods. This study aimed to analyze the chemical compositions of puparial exuviae from three forensically and medically important fly species; Lucilia sericata, Chrysomya albiceps, and Chrysomya marginalis. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was employed to assess the chemical profiles of these exuviae and evaluate their accuracy in identifying Dipteran insects. The study revealed the presence of twelve classes of chemical compounds across the three species, with retention times ranging from 18.78 to 35.03. A total of forty-two compounds with chain lengths ranging from C12 to C45 were identified. The profiles of Ch. albiceps and L. sericata displayed similarities, with alcohol being the most abundant compound (28.6%) in L. sericata. However, alkanes, including n-alkanes, branched alkanes, and cycloalkanes, constituted the main components of the cuticles in the three species, with Ch. marginalis displaying the highest percentage. These findings represent an initial step towards utilizing hydrocarbon composition as a practical tool for distinguishing between forensic species in Egypt.

Artificial neuronal networks are revolutionizing entomological research

AbstractThe application of artificial intelligence (AI) in entomological research has gained significant attention in recent years. This review summarizes the current state of research on the potential of AI methods in various subfields of entomology, such as behavioural biology, biodiversity research, climate change research, pest management, and disease vector control. In some cases, AI‐based species identification methods based on deep learning neuronal network models have been shown to outperform traditional morphological identification methods in terms of accuracy and speed. Behavioural biology research has been enhanced through the use of AI‐based tracking systems that can classify insect behaviour and movement patterns. Habitat modelling has also been improved with the use of AI, allowing for the creation of more accurate models that can predict insect distribution and abundance. Climate change and biodiversity research have benefited from AI‐driven tools that can analyse large datasets and predict the impact of environmental changes on insect populations. In agriculture, pest management has been revolutionized by AI methods, with the development of smart traps and monitoring systems that can detect and identify pest species in real‐time, enabling targeted control measures. Disease vector control has also been improved through the use of AI‐based predictive models, which can identify areas at risk of disease transmission and aid in the development of effective control strategies. In conclusion, AI methods have the potential to revolutionize many aspects of entomological research. Future research should focus on developing more sophisticated AI tools and integrating them into entomological research to address even more complex ecological questions.

Assessing arthropod biodiversity with DNA barcoding in Jinnah Garden, Lahore, Pakistan.

Previous difficulties in arthropod taxonomy (such as limitations in conventional morphological approaches, the possibility of cryptic species and a shortage of knowledgeable taxonomists) has been overcome by the powerful tool of DNA barcoding. This study presents a thorough analysis of DNA barcoding in regards to Pakistani arthropods, which were collected from Lahore's Jinnah Garden. The 88 % (9,451) of the 10,792 specimens that were examined were able to generate DNA barcodes and 83% (8,974) of specimens were assigned 1,361 barcode index numbers (BINs). However, the success rate differed significantly between the orders of arthropods, from 77% for Thysanoptera to an astounding 93% for Diptera. Through morphological exams, DNA barcoding, and cross-referencing with the Barcode of Life Data system (BOLD), the Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) were assigned with a high degree of accuracy, both at the order (100%) and family (98%) levels. Though, identifications at the genus (37%) and species (15%) levels showed room for improvement. This underscores the ongoing need for enhancing and expanding the DNA barcode reference library. This study identified 324 genera and 191 species, underscoring the advantages of DNA barcoding over traditional morphological identification methods. Among the 17 arthropod orders identified, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera from the class Insecta dominated, collectively constituting 94% of BINs. Expected malaise trap Arthropod fauna in Jinnah Garden could contain approximately 2,785 BINs according to Preston log-normal species distribution, yet the Chao-1 Index predicts 2,389.74 BINs. The Simpson Index of Diversity (1-D) is 0.989, signaling high species diversity, while the Shannon Index is 5.77, indicating significant species richness and evenness. These results demonstrated that in Pakistani arthropods, DNA barcoding and BOLD are an invaluable tool for improving taxonomic understanding and biodiversity assessment, opening the door for further eDNA and metabarcoding research.