InBIO BARCODING INITIATIVE: MOTH REFERENCE DATABASE USING NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING

InBIO BARCODING INITIATIVE: MOTH REFERENCE DATABASE USING NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING

Sónia Ferreira | September 5, 2016 | XVII Congresso Ibérico de Entomologia, Lisbon, Portugal

DNA barcoding is an essential tool in a vast array of ecological and conservation studies (e.g. biodiversity monitoring, diet assessments). However, its applicability is hampered by the lack of comprehensive reference collections, particularly of invertebrates that are underrepresented in reference databases. This knowledge gap becomes greater in biodiversity hotspots. InBIO is developing a DNA barcoding database covering Portuguese insect taxa. By combining field work and networking with taxonomists and ecologists, over 2,000 specimens were already sampled, covering over 150 families of insects. Here, we focus on moths, a diverse group within insects, and important prey of several vertebrates. There are over 2500 species listed for Portugal, but only a fraction is represented in BOLD. Currently, Lepidoptera is the order with highest representation in our collection, with 1032 specimens of 46 families. Genomic DNA was extracted from each specimen and the mitochondrial COI gene was amplified in two overlapping fragments. DNA barcodes were sequenced using high-throughput sequencing (Illumina platform) and analysed together with available information, and the genetic diversity was investigated. This data provides important insights into the diversity and taxonomy of Portuguese moths. The reference library will be a fundamental tool for long-term and large scale monitoring programs in Portugal.