DNA barcoding largely supports 250 years of classical taxonomy: identifications for Central European bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea partim)

Abstract

This study presents DNA barcode records for 4118 specimens representing 561 species of bees belonging to the six families of Apoidea (Andrenidae, Apidae, Colletidae, Halictidae, Megachilidae and Melittidae) found in Central Europe. These records provide fully compliant barcode sequences for 503 of the 571 bee species in the German fauna and partial sequences for 43 more. The barcode results are largely congruent with traditional taxonomy as only five closely allied pairs of species could not be discriminated by barcodes. As well, 90% of the species possessed sufficiently deep sequence divergence to be assigned to a different Barcode Index Number (BIN). In fact, 56 species (11%) were assigned to two or more BINs reflecting the high levels of intraspecific divergence among their component specimens. Fifty other species (9.7%) shared the same Barcode Index Number with one or more species, but most of these species belonged to a distinct barcode cluster within a particular BIN. The barcode data contributed to clarifying the status of nearly half the examined taxonomically problematic species of bees in the German fauna. Based on these results, the role of DNA barcoding as a tool for current and future taxonomic work is discussed.

Contribution of DNA barcoding to the study of the bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of Canada: progress to date

“…Similar issues were found for some species in other bee-barcode campaigns, often associated with the presence and coamplification of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia Hertig (Rickettsiaceae) (Magnacca and Brown 2012;Schmidt et al 2015).…”

“…This effort builds on previous DNA-facilitated taxonomic revisions (e.g., Gibbs 2010;Sheffield et al 2011b) and regional data sets (e.g., Sheffield et al 2003Sheffield et al , 2009 for Canada, and other regional faunas or taxonomic treatments outside of North America Magnacca and Brown 2012;Francoso and Arias 2013;Schmidt et al 2015). Specifically, we will determine how well the accumulated number of unique barcode index numbers, which show high concordance with species (Ratnasingham and Hebert 2013) for sequenced Canadian bees, matches our numerical species tally and the known composition of species from Canada.…”

Indobiosys – Dna Barcoding as a Tool for the Rapid Assessment of Hyperdiverse Insect Taxa in Indonesia: A Status Report

“…Barcode of Life) have produced big amount of data to populate BOLD's global database of DNA barcodes (Hendrich et al 2014, Morinière et al 2014, Hendrich et al 2015, Schmidt et al 2015, Hawlitschek et al 2016, Hebert et al 2016.…”

Protecting an Ecosystem Service

“…The overall objective is to monitor 664 reliably across multiple sites to gain spatial aspects of pollinator community structure 665 repeatedly over time to assess trends and react adaptively to protecting insect pollinator 666 services. 667 668 Employing molecular taxonomy through 'DNA barcoding' using the mitochondrial 669 cytochrome oxidase (COI) marker (particularly for insects) has now become relatively 670 commonplace (Hebert et al, 2003;Magnacca and Brown, 2012;Schmidt et al, 2015). By 671 cross-referencing sequences obtained from collected tissue samples to the growing global 672 database of barcodes that are linked to taxonomically well-studied specimens, we can use 673 these short, standardised gene regions to identify species rapidly and reliably ( Figure 6).…”

“…Thus, judicious use of COI-based genetic 680 clusters (sometimes referred to as Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs)) is usually 681 acceptable for monitoring purposes, but these entities should be backed up by careful and 682 accurate morphological examination (Meyer and Paulay, 2005). 683 684 DNA barcoding of European bees has now progressed to the point where COI 685 sequences are available for many species (Schmidt et al, 2015) and are accessible through 686 the global Bee Barcode of Life Initiative (Bee-BOL) (http://www.bee-bol.org). Similarly, 687…”