A two-step DNA barcoding approach for delimiting moth species: moths of Dongling Mountain (Beijing, China) as a case study.

ABSTRACT: DNA barcoding, based on a fragment of cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) mtDNA, is as an effective molecular tool for identification, discovery, and biodiversity assessment for most animals. However, multiple gene markers coupled with more sophisticated analytical approaches may be necessary to clarify species boundaries in cases of cryptic diversity or morphological plasticity. Using 339 moths collected from mountains surrounding Beijing, China, we tested a pipeline consisting of two steps: (1) rapid morphospecies sorting and screening of the investigated fauna with standard COI barcoding approaches; (2) additional analyses with multiple molecular markers for those specimens whose morphospecies and COI barcode grouping were incongruent. In step 1, 124 morphospecies were delimited into 116 barco

SUBMITTER: Jin Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6155206 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature