A DNA barcode library for Germany′s mayflies,stoneflies and caddisflies (Ephemeroptera,Plecoptera and Trichoptera) |
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| Authors: | Jérôme Morinière Lars Hendrich Michael Balke Arne J Beermann Tobias König Monika Hess Stefan Koch Reinhard Müller Florian Leese Paul D N Hebert Axel Hausmann Christoph D Schubart Gerhard Haszprunar |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Bavarian State Collection of Zoology (SNSB ‐ ZSM), München, Germany;2. Department Biology II and GeoBioCenter, Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University, München, Germany;3. Aquatic Ecosystem Research, University of Duisburg‐Essen, Essen, Germany;4. Büro H2 ?kologische Gutachten, Hess & Heckes GbR, München, Germany;5. Independent Researcher, Mindelheim, Germany;6. Planungsbüro Hydrobiologie, Berlin, Germany;7. Center for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg‐Essen, Essen, Germany;8. Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada;9. Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) are prominent representatives of aquatic macroinvertebrates, commonly used as indicator organisms for water quality and ecosystem assessments. However, unambiguous morphological identification of EPT species, especially their immature life stages, is a challenging, yet fundamental task. A comprehensive DNA barcode library based upon taxonomically well‐curated specimens is needed to overcome the problematic identification. Once available, this library will support the implementation of fast, cost‐efficient and reliable DNA‐based identifications and assessments of ecological status. This study represents a major step towards a DNA barcode reference library as it covers for two‐thirds of Germany's EPT species including 2,613 individuals belonging to 363 identified species. As such, it provides coverage for 38 of 44 families (86%) and practically all major bioindicator species. DNA barcode compliant sequences (≥500 bp) were recovered from 98.74% of the analysed specimens. Whereas most species (325, i.e., 89.53%) were unambiguously assigned to a single Barcode Index Number (BIN) by its COI sequence, 38 species (18 Ephemeroptera, nine Plecoptera and 11 Trichoptera) were assigned to a total of 89 BINs. Most of these additional BINs formed nearest neighbour clusters, reflecting the discrimination of geographical subclades of a currently recognized species. BIN sharing was uncommon, involving only two species pairs of Ephemeroptera. Interestingly, both maximum pairwise and nearest neighbour distances were substantially higher for Ephemeroptera compared to Plecoptera and Trichoptera, possibly indicating older speciation events, stronger positive selection or faster rate of molecular evolution. |
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| Keywords: | barcode library bioindicators COI cryptic diversity DNA barcoding Ephemeroptera Germany mitochondrial DNA Plecoptera Trichoptera water quality |
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