DNA Barcoding and geographical scale effect: The problems of undersampling genetic diversity hotspots.

ABSTRACT: DNA barcoding identification needs a good characterization of intraspecific genetic divergence to establish the limits between species. Yet, the number of barcodes per species is many times low and geographically restricted. A poor coverage of the species distribution range may hamper identification, especially when undersampled areas host genetically distinct lineages. If so, the genetic distance between some query sequences and reference barcodes may exceed the maximum intraspecific threshold for unequivocal species assignation. Taking a group of Quercus herbivores (moths) in Europe as model system, we found that the number of DNA barcodes from southern Europe is proportionally very low in the Barcoding of Life Data Systems. This geographical bias complicates the identification of

SUBMITTER: Gaytan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7548170 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature