Establishing a community-wide DNA barcode library as a new tool for arctic research
Language English Country Great Britain, England Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords
- DNA barcode library, Greenland, arthropod, high arctic, species diversity,
- MeSH
- Ecosystem * MeSH
- Phylogeny MeSH
- DNA, Ribosomal Spacer chemistry genetics MeSH
- Electron Transport Complex IV genetics MeSH
- Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase genetics MeSH
- Plants MeSH
- Biota * MeSH
- DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic methods MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Arctic Regions MeSH
- Greenland MeSH
- Names of Substances
- DNA, Ribosomal Spacer MeSH
- RbcL protein, plastid MeSH Browser
- Electron Transport Complex IV MeSH
- Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase MeSH
DNA sequences offer powerful tools for describing the members and interactions of natural communities. In this study, we establish the to-date most comprehensive library of DNA barcodes for a terrestrial site, including all known macroscopic animals and vascular plants of an intensively studied area of the High Arctic, the Zackenberg Valley in Northeast Greenland. To demonstrate its utility, we apply the library to identify nearly 20 000 arthropod individuals from two Malaise traps, each operated for two summers. Drawing on this material, we estimate the coverage of previous morphology-based species inventories, derive a snapshot of faunal turnover in space and time and describe the abundance and phenology of species in the rapidly changing arctic environment. Overall, 403 terrestrial animal and 160 vascular plant species were recorded by morphology-based techniques. DNA barcodes (CO1) offered high resolution in discriminating among the local animal taxa, with 92% of morphologically distinguishable taxa assigned to unique Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) and 93% to monophyletic clusters. For vascular plants, resolution was lower, with 54% of species forming monophyletic clusters based on barcode regions rbcLa and ITS2. Malaise catches revealed 122 BINs not detected by previous sampling and DNA barcoding. The insect community was dominated by a few highly abundant taxa. Even closely related taxa differed in phenology, emphasizing the need for species-level resolution when describing ongoing shifts in arctic communities and ecosystems. The DNA barcode library now established for Zackenberg offers new scope for such explorations, and for the detailed dissection of interspecific interactions throughout the community.
Biodiversity Institute of Ontario University of Guelph Guelph ON N1G 2W1 Canada
Department of Biology University of Eastern Finland P O Box 11 80101 Joensuu Finland
Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Ny Munkegade 114 DK 8000 Aarhus Denmark
Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Vejlsøvej 25 Silkeborg DK 8600 Denmark
Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Box 7044 750 07 Uppsala Sweden
Department of Forest Pathology University of Life Sciences Wojska Polskiego 71c Poznan 60625 Poland
Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge CB2 3EJ UK
Fakultät Biologie Universität Bielefeld Universitätsstrasse 25 33615 Bielefeld Germany
Finnish Environment Institute Mechelininkatu 34A 00250 Helsinki Finland
Metsähallitus Ounasjoentie 6 96101 Rovaniemi Finland
Metsähallitus Parks and Wildlife Finland PO Box 94 01301 Vantaa Finland
Ruuhikoskenkatu 17 B 5 24240 Salo Finland
Sandvedhagen 8 NO 4318 Sandnes Norway
Station Linné Ölands Skogsby 161 38693 Färjestaden Sweden
Zoological Museum of the University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 15 DK 2100 Copenhagen Denmark
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