The diversity and biogeography of the Coleoptera of Churchill: insights from DNA barcoding.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Coleoptera is the most diverse order of insects (>300,000 described species), but its richness diminishes at increasing latitudes (e.g., ca. 7400 species recorded in Canada), particularly of phytophagous and detritivorous species. However, incomplete sampling of northern habitats and a lack of taxonomic study of some families limits our understanding of biodiversity patterns in the Coleoptera. We conducted an intensive biodiversity survey from 2006-2010 at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada in order to quantify beetle species diversity in this model region, and to prepare a barcode library of beetles for sub-arctic biodiversity and ecological research. We employed DNA barcoding to provide estimates of provisional species diversity, including for families currently lacking taxon

SUBMITTER: Woodcock TS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3819705 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature