Moussab/ORKG-training-evaluation-set huggingface dataset:
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: Half of the European fruit fly species barcoded (Diptera, Tephritidae); a feasibility test for molecular identification
Abstract: Abstract A feasibility test of molecular identification of European fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) based on COI barcode sequences has been executed. A dataset containing 555 sequences of 135 ingroup species from three subfamilies and 42 genera and one single outgroup species has been analysed. 73.3% of all included species could be identified based on their COI barcode gene, based on similarity and distances. The low success rate is caused by singletons as well as some problematic groups: several species groups within the genus Terellia and especially the genus Urophora. With slightly more than 100 sequences – almost 20% of the total – this genus alone constitutes the larger part of the failure for molecular identification for this dataset. Deleting the singletons and Urophora results in a success-rate of 87.1% of all queries and 93.23% of the not discarded queries as correctly identified. Urophora is of special interest due to its economic importance as beneficial species for weed control, therefore it is desirable to have alternative markers for molecular identification. We demonstrate that the success of DNA barcoding for identification purposes strongly depends on the contents of the database used to BLAST against. Especially the necessity of including multiple specimens per species of geographically distinct populations and different ecologies for the understanding of the intra- versus interspecific variation is demonstrated. Furthermore thresholds and the distinction between true and false positives and negatives should not only be used to increase the reliability of the success of molecular identification but also to point out problematic groups, which should then be flagged in the reference database suggesting alternative methods for identification.
Extracted statement — Order (Taxonomy - biology): Diptera
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: Barcoding of biting midges in the genus Culicoides: a tool for species determination
Abstract: Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are insect vectors of economically important veterinary diseases such as African horse sickness virus and bluetongue virus. However, the identification of Culicoides based on morphological features is difficult. The sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), referred to as DNA barcoding, has been proposed as a tool for rapid identification to species. Hence, a study was undertaken to establish DNA barcodes for all morphologically determined Culicoides species in Swedish collections. In total, 237 specimens of Culicoides representing 37 morphologically distinct species were used. The barcoding generated 37 supported clusters, 31 of which were in agreement with the morphological determination. However, two pairs of closely related species could not be separated using the DNA barcode approach. Moreover, Culicoides obsoletus Meigen and Culicoides newsteadi Austen showed relatively deep intraspecific divergence (more than 10 times the average), which led to the creation of two cryptic species within each of C. obsoletus and C. newsteadi. The use of COI barcodes as a tool for the species identification of biting midges can differentiate 95% of species studied. Identification of some closely related species should employ a less conserved region, such as a ribosomal internal transcribed spacer.
Extracted statement — Order (Taxonomy - biology): Diptera
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: Identifying Canadian mosquito species through DNA barcodes
Abstract: Abstract A short fragment of mt DNA from the cytochrome c oxidase 1 (CO1) region was used to provide the first CO1 barcodes for 37 species of Canadian mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from the provinces Ontario and New Brunswick. Sequence variation was analysed in a 617‐bp fragment from the 5′ end of the CO1 region. Sequences of each mosquito species formed barcode clusters with tight cohesion that were usually clearly distinct from those of allied species. CO1 sequence divergences were, on average, nearly 20 times higher for congeneric species than for members of a species; divergences between congeneric species averaged 10.4% (range 0.2–17.2%), whereas those for conspecific individuals averaged 0.5% (range 0.0–3.9%).
Extracted statement — Order (Taxonomy - biology): Diptera
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: Identifying the Main Mosquito Species in China Based on DNA Barcoding
Abstract: Mosquitoes are insects of the Diptera, Nematocera, and Culicidae families, some species of which are important disease vectors. Identifying mosquito species based on morphological characteristics is difficult, particularly the identification of specimens collected in the field as part of disease surveillance programs. Because of this difficulty, we constructed DNA barcodes of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, the COI gene, for the more common mosquito species in China, including the major disease vectors. A total of 404 mosquito specimens were collected and assigned to 15 genera and 122 species and subspecies on the basis of morphological characteristics. Individuals of the same species grouped closely together in a Neighborhood-Joining tree based on COI sequence similarity, regardless of collection site. COI gene sequence divergence was approximately 30 times higher for species in the same genus than for members of the same species. Divergence in over 98% of congeneric species ranged from 2.3% to 21.8%, whereas divergence in conspecific individuals ranged from 0% to 1.67%. Cryptic species may be common and a few pseudogenes were detected.
Extracted statement — Order (Taxonomy - biology): Diptera
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: DNA barcodes for species delimitation in Chironomidae (Diptera): a case study on the genus Labrundinia
Abstract: Abstract In this study, we analysed the applicability of DNA barcodes for delimitation of 79 specimens of 13 species of nonbiting midges in the subfamily Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) from São Paulo State, Brazil. Our results support DNA barcoding as an excellent tool for species identification and for solving taxonomic conflicts in genus Labrundinia. Molecular analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences yielded taxon identification trees, supporting 13 cohesive species clusters, of which three similar groups were subsequently linked to morphological variation at the larval and pupal stage. Additionally, another cluster previously described by means of morphology was linked to molecular markers. We found a distinct barcode gap, and in some species substantial interspecific pairwise divergences (up to 19.3%) were observed, which permitted identification of all analysed species. The results also indicated that barcodes can be used to associate life stages of chironomids since COI was easily amplified and sequenced from different life stages with universal barcode primers. Résumé Notre étude évalue l'utilité des codes à barres d'ADN pour délimiter 79 spécimens de 13 espèces de moucherons de la sous-famille des Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) provenant de l’état de São Paulo, Brésil. Notre étude confirme l'utilisation des codes à barres d'ADN comme un excellent outil pour l'identification des espèces et la solution de problèmes taxonomiques dans genre Labrundinia. Une analyse moléculaire des séquences des gènes COI fournit des arbres d'identification des taxons, délimitant 13 groupes cohérents d'espèces, dont trois groupes similaires ont été reliés subséquemment à une variation morphologique des stades larvaires et nymphal. De plus, un autre groupe décrit antérieurement à partir de caractères morphologiques a été relié à des marqueurs moléculaires. Il existe un écart net entre les codes à barres et, chez certaines espèces, d'importantes divergences entre les espèces considérées deux par deux (jusqu’à 19,3%), ce qui a permis l'identification de toutes les espèces examinées. Nos résultats montrent aussi que les codes à barres peuvent servir à associer les différents stades de vie des chironomides, car il est facile d'amplifier et de séquencer le gène COI provenant des différents stades avec les amorces universelles des codes à barres.
Extracted statement — Order (Taxonomy - biology): Diptera
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: Revision of Nearctic Dasysyrphus Enderlein (Diptera: Syrphidae)
Abstract: Dasysyrphus Enderlein (Diptera: Syrphidae) has posed taxonomic challenges to researchers in the past, primarily due to their lack of interspecific diagnostic characters. In the present study, DNA data (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase sub-unit I—COI) were combined with morphology to help delimit species. This led to two species being resurrected from synonymy (D. laticaudus and D. pacificus) and the discovery of one new species (D. occidualis sp. nov.). An additional new species was described based on morphology alone (D. richardi sp. nov.), as the specimens were too old to obtain COI. Part of the taxonomic challenge presented by this group arises from missing type specimens. Neotypes are designated here for D. pauxillus and D. pinastri to bring stability to these names. An illustrated key to 13 Nearctic species is presented, along with descriptions, maps and supplementary data. A phylogeny based on COI is also presented and discussed.
Extracted statement — Order (Taxonomy - biology): Diptera
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: Comprehensive evaluation of DNA barcoding for the molecular species identification of forensically important Australian Sarcophagidae (Diptera)
Abstract: Abstract. Carrion-breeding Sarcophagidae (Diptera) can be used to estimate the post-mortem interval in forensic cases. Difficulties with accurate morphological identifications at any life stage and a lack of documented thermobiological profiles have limited their current usefulness. The molecular-based approach of DNA barcoding, which utilises a 648-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene, was evaluated in a pilot study for discrimination between 16 Australian sarcophagids. The current study comprehensively evaluated barcoding for a larger taxon set of 588 Australian sarcophagids. In total, 39 of the 84 known Australian species were represented by 580 specimens, which includes 92% of potentially forensically important species. A further eight specimens could not be identified, but were included nonetheless as six unidentifiable taxa. A neighbour-joining tree was generated and nucleotide sequence divergences were calculated. All species except Sarcophaga (Fergusonimyia) bancroftorum, known for high morphological variability, were resolved as monophyletic (99.2% of cases), with bootstrap support of 100. Excluding S. bancroftorum, the mean intraspecific and interspecific variation ranged from 1.12% and 2.81–11.23%, respectively, allowing for species discrimination. DNA barcoding was therefore validated as a suitable method for molecular identification of Australian Sarcophagidae, which will aid in the implementation of this fauna in forensic entomology.
Extracted statement — Order (Taxonomy - biology): Diptera
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: Evaluation of DNA barcoding and identification of new haplomorphs in Canadian deerflies and horseflies
Abstract: This paper reports the first tests of the suitability of the standardized mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcoding system for the identification of Canadian deerflies and horseflies. Two additional mitochondrial molecular markers were used to determine whether unambiguous species recognition in tabanids can be achieved. Our 332 Canadian tabanid samples yielded 650 sequences from five genera and 42 species. Standard COI barcodes demonstrated a strong A + T bias (mean 68.1%), especially at third codon positions (mean 93.0%). Our preliminary test of this system showed that the standard COI barcode worked well for Canadian Tabanidae: the target DNA can be easily recovered from small amounts of insect tissue and aligned for all tabanid taxa. Each tabanid species possessed distinctive sets of COI haplotypes which discriminated well among species. Average conspecific Kimura two‐parameter (K2P) divergence (0.49%) was 12 times lower than the average divergence within species. Both the neighbour‐joining and the Bayesian methods produced trees with identical monophyletic species groups. Two species, Chrysops dawsoni Philip and Chrysops montanus Osten Sacken (Diptera: Tabanidae), showed relatively deep intraspecific sequence divergences (∼10 times the average) for all three mitochondrial gene regions analysed. We suggest provisional differentiation of Ch. montanus into two haplotypes, namely, Ch. montanus haplomorph 1 and Ch. montanus haplomorph 2, both defined by their molecular sequences and by newly discovered differences in structural features near their ocelli.
Extracted statement — Order (Taxonomy - biology): Diptera
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: A DNA barcode library for 5,200 German flies and midges (Insecta: Diptera) and its implications for metabarcoding‐based biomonitoring
Abstract: This study summarizes results of a DNA barcoding campaign on German Diptera, involving analysis of 45,040 specimens. The resultant DNA barcode library includes records for 2,453 named species comprising a total of 5,200 barcode index numbers (BINs), including 2,700 COI haplotype clusters without species‐level assignment, so called “dark taxa.” Overall, 88 out of 117 families (75%) recorded from Germany were covered, representing more than 50% of the 9,544 known species of German Diptera. Until now, most of these families, especially the most diverse, have been taxonomically inaccessible. By contrast, within a few years this study provided an intermediate taxonomic system for half of the German Dipteran fauna, which will provide a useful foundation for subsequent detailed, integrative taxonomic studies. Using DNA extracts derived from bulk collections made by Malaise traps, we further demonstrate that species delineation using BINs and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) constitutes an effective method for biodiversity studies using DNA metabarcoding. As the reference libraries continue to grow, and gaps in the species catalogue are filled, BIN lists assembled by metabarcoding will provide greater taxonomic resolution. The present study has three main goals: (a) to provide a DNA barcode library for 5,200 BINs of Diptera; (b) to demonstrate, based on the example of bulk extractions from a Malaise trap experiment, that DNA barcode clusters, labelled with globally unique identifiers (such as OTUs and/or BINs), provide a pragmatic, accurate solution to the “taxonomic impediment”; and (c) to demonstrate that interim names based on BINs and OTUs obtained through metabarcoding provide an effective method for studies on species‐rich groups that are usually neglected in biodiversity research projects because of their unresolved taxonomy.
Extracted statement — Studied taxonomic group (Biology): Diptera
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: Close congruence between Barcode Index Numbers (bins) and species boundaries in the Erebidae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea) of the Iberian Peninsula
Abstract: Abstract The DNA barcode reference library for Lepidoptera holds much promise as a tool for taxonomic research and for providing the reliable identifications needed for conservation assessment programs. We gathered sequences for the barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene from 160 of the 176 nominal species of Erebidae moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) known from the Iberian Peninsula. These results arise from a research project which constructing a DNA barcode library for the insect species of Spain. New records for 271 specimens (122 species) are coupled with preexisting data for 38 species from the Iberian fauna. Mean interspecific distance was 12.1%, while the mean nearest neighbour divergence was 6.4%. All 160 species possessed diagnostic barcode sequences, but one pair of congeneric taxa (Eublemma rosea and Eublemma rietzi) were assigned to the same BIN. As well, intraspecific sequence divergences higher than 1.5% were detected in four species which likely represent species complexes. This study reinforces the effectiveness of DNA barcoding as a tool for monitoring biodiversity in particular geographical areas and the strong correspondence between sequence clusters delineated by BINs and species recognized through detailed taxonomic analysis.
Extracted statement — Studied taxonomic group (Biology): Erebidae
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: DNA barcode library for European Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) suggests greatly underestimated species diversity
Abstract: For the first time, a nearly complete barcode library for European Gelechiidae is provided. DNA barcode sequences (COI gene - cytochrome c oxidase 1) from 751 out of 865 nominal species, belonging to 105 genera, were successfully recovered. A total of 741 species represented by specimens with sequences ≥ 500bp and an additional ten species represented by specimens with shorter sequences were used to produce 53 NJ trees. Intraspecific barcode divergence averaged only 0.54% whereas distance to the Nearest-Neighbour species averaged 5.58%. Of these, 710 species possessed unique DNA barcodes, but 31 species could not be reliably discriminated because of barcode sharing or partial barcode overlap. Species discrimination based on the Barcode Index System (BIN) was successful for 668 out of 723 species which clustered from minimum one to maximum 22 unique BINs. Fifty-five species shared a BIN with up to four species and identification from DNA barcode data is uncertain. Finally, 65 clusters with a unique BIN remained unidentified to species level. These putative taxa, as well as 114 nominal species with more than one BIN, suggest the presence of considerable cryptic diversity, cases which should be examined in future revisionary studies.
Extracted statement — Studied taxonomic group (Biology): Gelechiidae
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: DNA Barcoding the Geometrid Fauna of Bavaria (Lepidoptera): Successes, Surprises, and Questions
Abstract: Background The State of Bavaria is involved in a research program that will lead to the construction of a DNA barcode library for all animal species within its territorial boundaries. The present study provides a comprehensive DNA barcode library for the Geometridae, one of the most diverse of insect families. Methodology/Principal Findings This study reports DNA barcodes for 400 Bavarian geometrid species, 98 per cent of the known fauna, and approximately one per cent of all Bavarian animal species. Although 98.5% of these species possess diagnostic barcode sequences in Bavaria, records from neighbouring countries suggest that species-level resolution may be compromised in up to 3.5% of cases. All taxa which apparently share barcodes are discussed in detail. One case of modest divergence (1.4%) revealed a species overlooked by the current taxonomic system: Eupithecia goossensiata Mabille, 1869 stat.n. is raised from synonymy with Eupithecia absinthiata (Clerck, 1759) to species rank. Deep intraspecific sequence divergences (>2%) were detected in 20 traditionally recognized species. Conclusions/Significance The study emphasizes the effectiveness of DNA barcoding as a tool for monitoring biodiversity. Open access is provided to a data set that includes records for 1,395 geometrid specimens (331 species) from Bavaria, with 69 additional species from neighbouring regions. Taxa with deep intraspecific sequence divergences are undergoing more detailed analysis to ascertain if they represent cases of cryptic diversity.
Extracted statement — Studied taxonomic group (Biology): Geometridae
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: Close congruence between Barcode Index Numbers (bins) and species boundaries in the Erebidae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea) of the Iberian Peninsula
Abstract: Abstract The DNA barcode reference library for Lepidoptera holds much promise as a tool for taxonomic research and for providing the reliable identifications needed for conservation assessment programs. We gathered sequences for the barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene from 160 of the 176 nominal species of Erebidae moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) known from the Iberian Peninsula. These results arise from a research project which constructing a DNA barcode library for the insect species of Spain. New records for 271 specimens (122 species) are coupled with preexisting data for 38 species from the Iberian fauna. Mean interspecific distance was 12.1%, while the mean nearest neighbour divergence was 6.4%. All 160 species possessed diagnostic barcode sequences, but one pair of congeneric taxa (Eublemma rosea and Eublemma rietzi) were assigned to the same BIN. As well, intraspecific sequence divergences higher than 1.5% were detected in four species which likely represent species complexes. This study reinforces the effectiveness of DNA barcoding as a tool for monitoring biodiversity in particular geographical areas and the strong correspondence between sequence clusters delineated by BINs and species recognized through detailed taxonomic analysis.
Extracted statement — Class (Taxonomy - biology): Insecta
Research field: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Title: Probing planetary biodiversity with DNA barcodes: The Noctuoidea of North America
Abstract: This study reports the assembly of a DNA barcode reference library for species in the lepidopteran superfamily Noctuoidea from Canada and the USA. Based on the analysis of 69,378 specimens, the library provides coverage for 97.3% of the noctuoid fauna (3565 of 3664 species). In addition to verifying the strong performance of DNA barcodes in the discrimination of these species, the results indicate close congruence between the number of species analyzed (3565) and the number of sequence clusters (3816) recognized by the Barcode Index Number (BIN) system. Distributional patterns across 12 North American ecoregions are examined for the 3251 species that have GPS data while BIN analysis is used to quantify overlap between the noctuoid faunas of North America and other zoogeographic regions. This analysis reveals that 90% of North American noctuoids are endemic and that just 7.5% and 1.8% of BINs are shared with the Neotropics and with the Palearctic, respectively. One third (29) of the latter species are recent introductions and, as expected, they possess low intraspecific divergences.
Extracted statement — Order (Taxonomy - biology): Lepidoptera