A molecular-based identification resource for the arthropods of Finland
Authors: Roslin Tomas , Somervuo Panu , Pentinsaari Mikko , Hebert Paul , Agda Jireh , Ahlroth Petri , Anttonen Perttu , Aspi Jouni , Blagoev Gergin , Blanco Santiago , Chan Dean , Clayhills Tom , deWaard Jeremy , deWaard Stephanie , Elliott Tyler , Elo Riikka , Haapala Sami , Helve Eero , Ilmonen Jari , Hirvonen Petri , Ho Chris , Itämies Juhani , Ivanov Vladislav , Jakovlev Jevgeni , Juslen Aino , Jussila Reijo , Kahanpää Jere , Kaila Lauri , Kaitila Jari-Pekka , Kakko Ari , Kakko Iiro , Karhu Ali , Karjalainen Sami , Kjaerandsen Jostein , Koskinen Janne , Laasonen Erkki , Laasonen Leena , Laine Erkka , Lampila Petri , Levesque-Beaudin Valerie , Lu Liuqiong , Lähteenaro Meri , Majuri Pekka , Malmberg Sampsa , Manjunath Ramya , Martikainen Petri , Mattila Jaakko , McKeown Jaclyn , Metsälä Petri , Miklasevskaja Margarita , Miller Meredith , Labbee Rene , Muinonen Arto , Mukkala Veli-Matti , Naik Suresh , Nikolova Nadia , Nupponen Kari , Ovaskainen Otso , Österblad Ika , Paasivirta Lauri , Pajunen Timo , Parkko Petri , Paukkunen Juho , Penttinen Ritva , Perez Kate , Pohjoismäki Jaakko , Prosser Sean , Raekunnas Martti , Rahulan Miduna , Rannisto Meeri , Ratnasingham Sujeevan , Raukko Pekka , Rinne Aki , Rintala Teemu , Romo Susana , Salmela Jukka , Salokannel Juha , Savolainen Riitta , Schulman Leif , Sihvonen Pasi , Soliman Dina , Sones Jayme , Steinke Claudia , Ståhls G. , Tabell Jukka , Tiusanen Mikko , Várkonyi Gergely , Vesterinen Eero J. , Viitanen Esko , Vikberg Veli , Viitasaari Matti , Vilen Jussi , Warne Connor , Wei Catherine , Winqvist Kai , Zakharov Evgeny , Mutanen Marko 
Published: May 2021

To associate specimens identified by molecular characters to other
biological knowledge, we need reference sequences annotated by Linnaean
taxonomy. In this paper, we 1) report the creation of a comprehensive
reference library of DNA barcodes for the arthropods of an entire
country (Finland), 2) publish this library, and 3) deliver a new
identification tool based on this resource. The reference library
contains mtDNA COI barcodes for 11,275 (43%) of 26,437 arthropod
species known from Finland, including 10,811 (45%) of 23,956 insect
species. To quantify the improvement in identification accuracy enabled
by the current reference library, we ran 1,000 Finnish insect and spider
species through the Barcode of Life Data system (BOLD) identification
engine. Of these, 91% were correctly assigned to a unique species when
compared to the new reference library alone, 85% were correctly
identified when compared to BOLD with the new material included, and
75% with the new material excluded. To capitalize on this resource, we
used the new reference material to train a probabilistic taxonomic
assignment tool, FinPROTAX, scoring high success. For the full-length
barcode region, the accuracy of taxonomic assignments at the level of
classes, orders, families, subfamilies, tribes, genera, and species
reached 99.9%, 99.9%, 99.8%, 99.7%, 99.4%, 96.8%, and 88.5%,
respectively. The FinBOL arthropod reference library and FinPROTAX are
available through the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility
(www.laji.fi). Overall, the FinBOL investment represents a massive
capacity-transfer from the taxonomic community of Finland to all sectors
of society.