Decoding Biodiversity in Baiyangdian Lake: A DNA Barcode Reference Library for Aquatic Insects.

ABSTRACT: Freshwater ecosystems are among the most vulnerable habitats worldwide, and reliable biodiversity assessment is essential for their conservation. Baiyangdian Lake, the largest freshwater lake in northern China, has undergone severe ecological degradation but is now experiencing recovery through restoration efforts. To provide a molecular basis for monitoring biodiversity, we constructed a COI DNA barcode reference library of aquatic insects from Baiyangdian Lake. From January 2023 to May 2025, systematic sampling across representative habitats yielded 315 high-quality sequences covering 104 species, 74 genera, and 33 families within eight insect orders. Diptera, particularly Chironomidae, showed the highest diversity, followed by Odonata. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likeliho

SUBMITTER: Qiao YJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12841666 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature