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Based on morphological characteristics, including male and female genitalia, combined with DNA barcodes, two new species, Anaplecta circinalis Deng & Che, sp. nov. and Anaplecta bihamata Deng & Che, sp. nov., are described in detail. Additional information on the female genitalia of Anaplecta furcata Deng & Che, 2020 is also provided. Photographs of external morphology and caudal anatomy of these species, as well as a key to the Chinese Anaplecta species, are provided.

The tube-web spider genus Ariadna Audouin, 1826 has been revised for South Australia and Victoria, revealing a remarkable diversity, particularly centred in the arid north of South Australia. We describe 23 species as new, ten of which are supported by molecular data, where these were available. We recognise two species groups for some of the species based on a combination of genitalic morphology, macrosetae patterns and somatic characters: the clavata species group, which includes Ariadna clavata Marsh, Baehr, Glatz & Framenau, 2018 and A. spinosasp. nov. from South Australia, and A. otwayensissp. nov. and A. sinuosasp. nov. from Victoria, and the formosa species group, including A. formosasp. nov. and A. umbrasp. nov. from South Australia, and A. triasp. nov. from Victoria. Seventeen new species could not be placed into these two species groups: A. arenaceasp. nov., A. bellatulasp. nov., A. curvatasp. nov., A. desertasp. nov., A. diucrurasp. nov., A. flavescenssp. nov., A. inflata sp. nov., A. insula sp. nov., A. pollex sp. nov., A. propria sp. nov., A. rutila sp. nov., Ariadna simplexsp. nov., A. subplanasp. nov., A. unasp. nov., A. ungua sp. nov., A. valida sp. nov. and A. woinarskiisp. nov. We provide updated diagnoses and distributional data for A. clavata and A. tangara Marsh, Baehr, Glatz & Framenau, 2018; however, the holotype of A. burchelli (Hogg, 1900) from Victoria could not be located for this project.

This is a response to a preprint version of “A re-analysis of the data in Sharkey et al.’s (2021) minimalist revision reveals that BINs do not deserve names, but BOLD Systems needs a stronger commitment to open science”, https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.28.441626v2. Meier et al. strongly criticized Sharkey et al.’s publication in which 403 new species were deliberately minimally described, based primarily on COI barcode sequence data. Here we respond to these criticisms. The following points are made: 1) Sharkey et al. did not equate BINs with species, as demonstrated in several examples in which multiple species were found to be in single BINs. 2) We reiterate that BINs were used as a preliminary sorting tool, just as preliminary morphological identification commonly sorts specimens based on color and size into unit trays; despite BINs and species concepts matching well over 90% of species, this matching does not equate to equality. 3) Consensus barcodes were used only to provide a diagnosis to conform to the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature just as consensus morphological diagnoses are. The barcode of a holotype is definitive and simply part of its cellular morphology. 4) Minimalist revisions will facilitate and accelerate future taxonomic research, not hinder it. 5) We refute the claim that the BOLD sequences of Plesiocoelus vanachterbergi are pseudogenes and demonstrate that they simply represent a frameshift mutation. 6) We reassert our observation that morphological evidence alone is insufficient to recognize species within species-rich higher taxa and that its usefulness lies in character states that are congruent with molecular data. 7) We show that in the cases in which COI barcodes code for the same amino acids in different putative species, data from morphology, host specificity, and other ecological traits reaffirm their utility as indicators of genetically distinct lineages.

The Asian genus Acerataspis Uchida, 1934 is reviewed based on both morphology and DNA barcodes. Ten species are recognized in total, of which three species from Yunnan Province of China are described as new: Acerataspis maliae sp. nov., A. seperata sp. nov. and A. similis sp. nov. The male of A. fukienensis Chao, 1957 is described and illustrated for the first time. The genus is recorded from Thailand and Southeast Asia for the first time. An illustrated key to all known extant species is provided. With the supplement of DNA barcodes, a few diagnostic morphological characters are found useful in species identification.

The Altai Mountains of central Asia are biologically rich and comprise a wide diversity of ecosystems and lineages, including numerous endemic vascular plant species. Here we provide an updated checklist of the endemic vascular flora of the Altai Mountains with more taxa and higher geographic resolution than previously reported, as well as first molecular data and specimen images for many of these species. This flora is now known to contain 321 endemic species distributed in 34 families, many of which are narrowly restricted to one subregion of the Altai. The Fabaceae has given rise to the most endemic species in the Altai (74 spp.), and most of this diversity is found in the large and ecologically important genera Astragalus and Oxytropis. Approximately 60% of the endemic flora was imaged and successfully barcoded with at least one of three common DNA barcoding loci, and a phylogenetic tree based upon these loci is also presented to display the evolutionary breadth of endemism in the Altai. The distribution of each endemic species is presented in terms of a standard geographic subdivision of the Altai region, with general conservation priorities discussed based on areas currently afforded protected status.

We describe three new species: Zebeeba orzolae Falck & Karsholt, sp. n. (Erebidae: Rivulinae), Nyctobryavilfredi Falck & Karsholt, sp. n. (Noctuidae: Bryophilinae) and Agrotis corralejoi Falck & Karsholt, sp. n.(Noctuidae: Noctuinae). The unknown female of Mniotype loslobensis (Fischer, Saldaitis & Ivinskis, 2007)(Noctuidae: Hadeninae) and its genitalia are described and illustrated. Twelve species are recorded as new to thefauna of the Canary Islands: Epharmottomena eremophila (Rebel, 1895), Eublemma thermobasis Hampson, 1910,Eublemma candidana (Fabricius, 1794), Araeopteron ecphaea (Hampson, 1914), Gnamptonyx innexa (Walker,1858) and Rhabdophera acrosticta (Püngeler, 1904) (Erebidae), Nycteola columbana (Turner, 1925) (Nolidae),Amyna axis Guenée, 1852, Polymixis aurora commixta (Rungs, 1943), Nonagria typhae (Thunberg, 1784),Mythimna languida (Walker, 1858) and Leucania zeae (Duponchel, 1828) (Noctuidae). Five species are, because ofdifferent errors, removed from the list of Lepidoptera found in the Canary Islands: Schrankia taenialis (Hübner,[1809]), Cosmia affinis (Linnaeus, 1767), Hecatera sancta (Staudinger, 1859), Agrotis boeticus (Boisduval, 1837)and A. aistleitneri Behounek & Speidel, 2009. The genus Gerarctia Hampson, 1905 is, based on personalinformation from H. Hacker, synonymised with Zebeeba Kirby, 1892, syn. n., and Gerarctia poliotis Hampson, 1905is transferred to Zebeeba as Z. poliotis (Hampson, 1905), comb. n. DNA barcodes of Caradrina rebeli Staudinger,1901 from different Canary Islands are compared, and it is concluded that the species occurs in two subspecies: C.rebeli rebeli Staudinger, 1901 and C. rebeli lanzarotensis Pinker, 1962. We describe three new species: Zebeeba orzolae Falck & Karsholt, sp. n. (Erebidae: Rivulinae), Nyctobrya vilfredi Falck & Karsholt, sp. n. (Noctuidae: Bryophilinae) and Agrotis corralejoi Falck & Karsholt, sp. n. (Noctuidae: Noctuinae). The unknown female of Mniotype loslobensis (Fischer, Saldaitis & Ivinskis, 2007) (Noctuidae: Hadeninae) and its genitalia are described and illustrated. Twelve species are recorded as new to the fauna of the Canary Islands: Epharmottomena eremophila (Rebel, 1895), Eublemma thermobasis Hampson, 1910, Eublemma candidana (Fabricius, 1794), Araeopteron ecphaea (Hampson, 1914), Gnamptonyx innexa (Walker, 1858) and Rhabdophera acrosticta (Püngeler, 1904) (Erebidae), Nycteola columbana (Turner, 1925) (Nolidae), Amyna axis Guenée, 1852, Polymixis aurora commixta (Rungs, 1943), Nonagria typhae (Thunberg, 1784), Mythimna languida (Walker, 1858) and Leucania zeae (Duponchel, 1828) (Noctuidae). Five species are, because of different errors, removed from the list of Lepidoptera found in the Canary Islands: Schrankia taenialis (Hübner, [1809]), Cosmia affinis (Linnaeus, 1767), Hecatera sancta (Staudinger, 1859), Agrotis boeticus (Boisduval, 1837) and A. aistleitneri Behounek & Speidel, 2009. The genus Gerarctia Hampson, 1905 is, based on personal information from H. Hacker, synonymised with Zebeeba Kirby, 1892, syn. n., and Gerarctia poliotis Hampson, 1905 is transferred to Zebeeba as Z. poliotis (Hampson, 1905), comb. n. DNA barcodes of Caradrina rebeli Staudinger, 1901 from different Canary Islands are compared, and it is concluded that the species occurs in two subspecies: C. rebeli rebeli Staudinger, 1901 and C. rebeli lanzarotensis Pinker, 1962.

One new species of Bundoksia Lucañas, 2021 from China is described. We construct a haplotype network from 21 COI sequences to display the relationships amongst populations of Bundoksia longissimasp. nov., mainly from Hainan Island, Yunnan Province and Guangxi Province, China. For the first time, we provide the details of female genitalia in addition to the known external morphology and male genitalia of the genus. Six molecular markers (12S, 16S, 18S, 28S, COI and COII) from a total of 38 samples, including three samples of Bundoksia longissimasp. nov., are used to reconstruct phylogenetic trees using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) to assess the phylogenetic affinities of Bundoksia. Photographs of the morphology and a key to the three Bundoksia species are also provided.

Morphological characteristics, including male and female genitalia, combined with DNA barcodes were used to identify 470 Anaplecta specimens sampled from China. Ten Anaplecta species are new to science, including three cryptic species: A. paraomei Zhu & Che, sp. nov., A. condensa Zhu & Che, sp. nov., and A. longihamata Zhu & Che, sp. nov., which are distinguished mainly by their female genitalia. The other seven new species are as follows: A. bicruris Zhu & Che, sp. nov., A. spinosa Zhu & Che, sp. nov., A. ungulata Zhu & Che, sp. nov., A. anomala Zhu & Che, sp. nov., A. serrata Zhu & Che, sp. nov., A. bombycina Zhu & Che, sp. nov., and A. truncatula Zhu & Che, sp. nov. This study illustrates that differences in female genitalia can be used to distinguish among species of Anaplecta. The female genitalia of 19 Chinese Anaplecta species are described and illustrated in this paper.

Samia ricini (Wm. Jones) and Samia cynthia (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) have been used as traditional sources of food as well as silk-producing insects. However, the phylogenetic relationship between the two silkworms remains to be addressed. In this study, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene sequences corresponding to DNA barcodes from 13 Samia species were analysed, and a DNA barcode-based phylogenetic framework for these Samia species was provided. Phylogenetic analysis showed that multiple individuals of a species could be clustered together. Our analysis revealed a close relationship among Samia yayukae Paukstadt, Peigler and Paukstadt, Samia abrerai Naumann and Peigler, Samia kohlli Naumann and Peigler, Samia naessigi Naumann and Peigler, Samia naumanni Paukstadt, Peigler and Paukstadt, and Samia kalimantanensis Paukstadt and Paukstadt. The mixed clustering relationship and low Kimura-2-parameter (K2P) genetic distance (0.006) between individuals of S. ricini and Samia canningi (Hutton) indicated that the cultivated silkworm S. ricini was derived from the non-cultivated silkworm S. canningi. The remote phylogenetic relationship and high K2P genetic distance (0.039) indicated that S. ricini and S. cynthia are distinct species, thus providing solid molecular evidence that they had entirely independent origins. The relationships between S. kalimantanensis and S. naumanni and between S. cynthia and Samia wangi Naumann and Peigler, as well as the potential cryptic species within S. abrerai were also discussed. This is the first study to assess the DNA barcodes of the genus Samia, which supplements the knowledge of species identification and provides the first molecular phylogenetic framework for Samia species.

The genome in a eukaryotic cell is packaged into chromatin and regulated by chromatin-binding and chromatin-modifying factors. Many of these factors and their complexes have been identified before, but how each genomic locus interacts with its surrounding proteins in the nucleus over time and in changing conditions remains poorly described. Measuring protein–DNA interactions at a specific locus in the genome is challenging and current techniques such as capture of a locus followed by mass spectrometry require high levels of enrichment. Epi-Decoder, a method developed in budding yeast, enables systematic decoding of the proteome of a single genomic locus of interest without the need for locus enrichment. Instead, Epi-Decoder uses massive parallel chromatin immunoprecipitation of tagged proteins combined with barcoding a genomic locus and counting of coimmunoprecipitated barcodes by DNA sequencing (TAG-ChIP-Barcode-Seq). In this scenario, DNA barcode counts serve as a quantitative readout for protein binding of each tagged protein to the barcoded locus. Epi-Decoder can be applied to determine the protein–DNA interactions at a wide range of genomic loci, such as coding genes, noncoding genes, and intergenic regions. Furthermore, Epi-Decoder provides the option to study protein–DNA interactions upon changing cellular and/or genetic conditions. In this protocol, we describe in detail how to construct Epi-Decoder libraries and how to perform an Epi-Decoder analysis.

Dioscorea alata L. (Dioscoreaceae), commonly known as greater yam, water yam, or winged yam, is a popular tuber vegetable/food crop worldwide, with nutritional, health, and economical importance. China is an important domestication center of D. alata, and hundreds of cultivars (accessions) have been established. However, genetic variations among Chinese accessions remain ambiguous, and genomic resources currently available for the molecular breeding of this species in China are very scarce. In this study, we generated the first pan-plastome of D. alata, based on 44 Chinese accessions and 8 African accessions, and investigated the genetic variations, plastome evolution, and phylogenetic relationships within D. alata and among members of the section Enantiophyllum. The D. alata pan-plastome encoded 113 unique genes and ranged in size from 153,114 to 153,161 bp. A total of four whole-plastome haplotypes (Haps I–IV) were identified in the Chinese accessions, showing no geographical differentiation, while all eight African accessions shared the same whole-plastome haplotype (Hap I). Comparative genomic analyses revealed that all four whole plastome haplotypes harbored identical GC content, gene content, gene order, and IR/SC boundary structures, which were also highly congruent with other species of Enantiophyllum. In addition, four highly divergent regions, i.e., trnC–petN, trnL–rpl32, ndhD–ccsA, and exon 3 of clpP, were identified as potential DNA barcodes. Phylogenetic analyses clearly separated all the D. alata accessions into four distinct clades corresponding to the four haplotypes, and strongly supported that D. alata was more closely related to D. brevipetiolata and D. glabra than D. cirrhosa, D. japonica, and D. polystachya. Overall, these results not only revealed the genetic variations among Chinese D. alata accessions, but also provided the necessary groundwork for molecular-assisted breeding and industrial utilization of this species.

An extensive examination of the external and internal morphological characters of the genus Nychiodes shows that “Nychiodes” tyttha Prout, 1915 is incorrectly placed in this genus. The systematic position of this species was investigated by using a multigene analysis, including one mitochondrial and up to nine protein-coding nuclear gene regions, and morphological characters. These results support a re-classification of this species as Aphilopota tyttha, comb. nov. A re-description supported by illustrations of morphological characters for A. tyttha is provided.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a key food crop, accounting for approximately 765 million tons produced worldwide. The present study evaluated 16 wheat genotypes using 19 morphological and phenological traits, 16 molecular markers (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats and Start Codon Targeted; ISSR and SCoT) and rbcL and matK plastid gene barcoding. The 16 wheat genotypes showed significant genetic variation using the markers assayed. Cell plot of phenological parameters revealed significant differences among the 16-day-old seedlings of wheat genotypes at Z1.1 growth stage. Collectively, W2 genotype had the lowest shoot length (SL), length of first internodes (LFI) and leaf area (LA) values, while W8 genotype had the highest diameter of first internode (DFI) and LA values. Furthermore, W7 genotype had the maximum plant biomass (PB) and leaf width (LW) values. Geometric models grouped wheat kernels into “rounded” and “nearly elongated”. Estimates of heritability (H2) for these morphological characters ranged from 4.93 to 100%. The highest H2 values were recorded for root number (RN) (100%) followed by SL (88.72%), LFI (88.30%), LA (87.76%) and Feret diameter (86.68%), while the lowest H2 value was recorded for DFI (4.93%). Furthermore, highly significant genotypic and phenotypic correlations were also observed among those traits. Reproducible fingerprinting profiles and high levels of polymorphism (PPB%) of SCoT (95.46%) and ISSR (82.41%) were recorded, indicating that they are effective tools for detecting genetic variation levels among wheat genotypes. The informativeness of markers were measured through estimation of polymorphic information content (PIC), resolving power (RP) and marker index (MI). The RP and PPB% of SCoT were significantly higher compared to those of ISSR. Comparatively, the two molecular markers were effective for studying genetic diversity among wheat genotypes, but SCoT markers were more informative. Moreover, based on the two chloroplast DNA regions (rbcL and matK), MatK was found to be more reliable for differentiating among T. aestivum genotypes. Taken together, using all the studied attributes, a clear taxonomic relationship can be used to identify T. aestivum species and improve their pragmatic production and development.

Eresidae C. L. Koch, 1845 contains nine genera and 102 species, of which 24 species belong to Eresus Walckenaer, 1805. Four species of the family are known from China: E. granosus Simon, 1895 (Beijing), E. kollari Rossi, 1846 (Hebei), E. lishizheni Lin, Marusik & Li, 2021 (Xinjiang) and Stegodyphus tibialis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1869) (Yunnan). Two new species of Eresus are described from Xinjiang, China: Eresus da Lin & Li sp. n. and E. yukuni Lin & Li sp. n. Photos and morphological descriptions of new species are given.

Accurate identification of species from timber is an essential step to help control illegal logging and forest loss. However, current approaches to timber identification based on morphological and anatomical characteristics have limited species resolution. DNA barcoding is a proven tool for plant species identification, but there is a need to build reliable reference data across broad taxonomic and spatial scales. Here, we construct a species barcoding library consisting of 1550 taxonomically diverse timber species from 656 genera and 124 families, representing a comprehensive genetic reference data set for Chinese timber species and international commercial traded timber species, using four barcodes (rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA, and ITS2). The ITS2 fragment was found to be the most efficient locus for Chinese timber species identification among the four barcodes tested, both at the species and genus level, despite its low recovery rate. Nevertheless, the barcode combination matK+trnH-psbA+ITS2 was required as a complementary barcode to distinguish closely related species in complex data sets involving internationally traded timber species. Comparative analyses of family-level discrimination and species/genus ratios indicated that the inclusion of closely related species is an important factor affecting the resolution ability of barcodes for timber species verification. Our study indicates that although nuclear ITS2 is the most efficient single barcode for timber species authentication in China, complementary combinations like matK+trnH-psbA+ITS2 are required to provide broader discrimination power. These newly-generated sequences enrich the existing publicly available databases, especially for tropical and subtropical evergreen timber trees and this current timber species barcode reference library can serve as an important genetic resource for forestry monitoring, illegal logging prosecution and biodiversity projects.

Rapid and accurate species diagnosis accelerates performance in numerous biological fields and associated areas. However, morphology-based species taxonomy/identification might hinder study and lead to ambiguous results. DNA barcodes (Bar) has been employed extensively for plant species identification. Recently, CRISPR-cas system can be applied for diagnostic tool to detect pathogen’s DNA based on the collateral activity of cas12a or cas13. Here, we developed barcode-coupled with cas12a assay, “Bar-cas12a” for species authentication using Phyllanthus amarus as a model. The gRNAs were designed from trnL region, namely gRNA-A and gRNA-B. As a result, gRNA-A was highly specific to P. amarus amplified by RPA in contrast to gRNA-B even in contaminated condition. Apart from the large variation of gRNA-A binding in DNA target, cas12a- specific PAM’s gRNA-A as TTTN can be found only in P. amarus. PAM site may be recognized one of the potential regions for increasing specificity to authenticate species. In addition, the sensitivity of Bar-cas12a using both gRNAs gave the same detection limit at 0.8 fg and it was 1,000 times more sensitive compared to agarose gel electrophoresis. This approach displayed the accuracy degree of 90% for species authentication. Overall, Bar-cas12a using trnL-designed gRNA offer a highly specific, sensitive, speed, and simple approach for plant species authentication. Therefore, the current method serves as a promising tool for species determination which is likely to be implemented for onsite testing.

Eupithecia copaquillaensissp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae, Eupitheciini) is described and illustrated. Adults of this new species were discovered using a light trap in the Copaquilla ravine, at about 2800 m elevation on the western slope of the Andes of northern Chile. The morphology of the genitalia of E. copaquillaensis resembles that of E. atacama (Vojnits, 1985), which is also Chilean. However, the shape of the smaller cornutus and the signa in the male and female genitalia respectively enable accurate differentiation of the two species. DNA barcodes are used to associate male and female E. copaquillaensis.

Sasaki, Mizuki, Anders, Jason Lee, Nakao, Minoru (2021): Cestode fauna of murid and cricetid rodents in Hokkaido, Japan, with assignment of DNA barcodes. Species Diversity 26: 255-272, DOI: 10.12782/specdiv.26.255

Technological and analytical advances to study evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are realized through molecular approaches including DNA barcoding. We characterized the usefulness of COI DNA barcodes in green turtles in Mexico to better understand genetic divergence and other genetic parameters of this species. We analyzed 63 sequences, including 25 from green turtle field specimens collected from the Gulf of Mexico and from the Mexican Pacific and 38 already present in the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD). A total of 13 haplotypes were identified with four novel haplotypes from the Pacific Ocean and three novel haplotypes from the Atlantic Ocean. Intraspecific distance values among COI gene sequences by two different models were 0.01, demonstrating that there is not a subdivision for green turtle species. Otherwise, the interspecific distance interval ranged from 0.07 to 0.13, supporting a clear subdivision among all sea turtle species. Haplotype and total nucleotide diversity values of the COI gene reflect a medium genetic diversity average. Green turtles of the Mexican Pacific showed common haplotypes to some Australian and Chinese turtles, but different from the haplotypes of the Mexican Atlantic. COI analysis revealed new haplotypes and confirmed that DNA barcodes were useful for evaluation of the population diversity of green turtles in Mexico.

The genus Argopistes (Chrysomelidae: Alticini) is the only group of flea beetles specialized in plant hosts in the family Oleaceae. In southern Africa, Argopistes are often found feeding on African Wild Olive (Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata) and European cultivated olive (O. e. subsp. europaea), and heavy infestations can be devastating to mature trees and compromise the development of young trees. Despite their negative agricultural impact, African Argopistes are an understudied group for which no genetic data were available. We assessed the species diversity of olive flea beetles in the Western Cape province of South Africa, the largest olive-producing region in sub-Saharan Africa, by collecting adult specimens on wild and cultivated olive trees between 2015 and 2017. Argopistes sexvittatus Bryant, 1922 (n = 289) dominated at all sampling sites, and Argopistes capensis Bryant, 1944 (n = 2) was found only once. Argopistes oleae Bryant, 1922, a third species previously reported in the region, was not found. The complete mitogenomes of one A. capensis and two A. sexvittatus (striped and black morphotypes) individuals were sequenced for phylogenetic reconstruction in the context of other 64 species. The two olive flea beetle species form a monophyletic clade with other Argopistes, supporting the hypothesis that the exclusive feeding habit on Oleaceae is an evolutionary adaptation in this genus.

Background Brazil is exceptionally abundant in medicinal plant resources and has a rich ethnopharmacological history. Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (BP) acts as a national standard that regulates drug quality and has six published editions. Recent genomic approaches have led to a resurgence of interest in herbal drugs. The genomic data of plants has been used for pharmaceutical applications, protecting natural resources, and efficiently regulating the market. However, there are few genomic databases specifically for medicinal plants, and the establishment of a database that focuses on the herbs contained in the BP is urgently required. Methods The medicinal plant species included in each edition of the BP were analyzed to understand the evolution of the Brazilian herbal drugs. The data of 82 plants in the BP were collected and categorized into four sections: DNA barcodes, super-barcodes, genomes, and sequencing data. A typical web server architecture pattern was used to build the database and website. Furthermore, the cp-Gs of the Aloe genus in the database were analyzed as an illustration. Results A new database, the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia Genomic Database (BPGD) was constructed and is now publicly accessible. A BLAST server for species identification and sequence searching with the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), the intergenic region (psbA-trnH), and the chloroplast genome (cp-G) of Brazilian medicinal plants was also embedded in the BPGD. The database has 753 ITS2 of 76 species, 553 psbA-trnH and 190 genomes (whole genome and chloroplast genome) of 57 species. In addition, it contains 37 genome sequence data sets of 24 species and 616 transcriptome sequence data sets of 34 species and also includes 187 cp-Gs representing 57 medicinal species in the BP. Analyses of the six cp-Gs of three Aloe species identified the variable regions in the cp-Gs. These can be used to identify species and understand the intraspecific relationships. Conclusions This study presents the first genomic database of medicinal plants listed in the latest BP. It serves as an efficient platform to obtain and analyze genomic data, accelerate studies regarding Brazilian medicinal plants and facilitate the rational development on their market regulation.

Summary Despite evolving biological application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) at single-cell level, current techniques in NGS library preparation restrict multiplexing, necessitating the costly preparation of distinct libraries for each sample. Here, we report the development of a novel poly(β-amino) ester labeling system synthesized with inexpensive, common reagents, termed POLYseq, capable of efficiently delivering fluorescent molecules or sample-distinguishing DNA barcodes through non-covalent binding enabling rapid creation of custom sample pools. Chemical formulation was found to determine cellular labeling propensity. Live image-based tracking of fluorescent conjugated POLYseq vectors demonstrated lysosomal compartmentalization. Barcode labeling was uniformly detected across 90% of cells by single-cell RNA sequencing, allowing for the successful identification of human and mouse cultured cell lines from a single pool. These findings highlight the multifunctional applications of POLYseq in live cell imaging and NGS in a scalable and cost-effective manner., Highlights • POLYseq using inexpensive, commercially available reagents in two-step procedure • POLYseq efficiently binds fluorescent molecules and single-stranded DNA oligomers • 10 min to barcode cells in situ with excellent labeling retention • POLYseq is amenable for droplet-based single-cell RNA sequencing, In this article, Takebe and colleagues developed a set of polymers synthesized using commercially available inexpensive reagents with the ability to ubiquitously tag cells and organoids with fluorescence or genetic barcodes to enable single-cell imaging and transcriptomics applications in a rapid and cost-efficient manner.

espanolEl termino acido desoxirribonucleico ambiental o DNA ambiental (eDNA) se acuno para definir al acido desoxirribonucleico (DNA) que se puede recuperar o detectar del ambiente (por ejemplo: suelo, aire o agua) sin necesidad de que el especimen este fisicamente presente. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar y ejemplificar los usos, aplicaciones y potencial del eDNA. El estudio del eDNA es utilizado para la evaluacion de especies, que va desde la reconstruccion historica de sus comunidades, la restauracion del ecosistema, hasta la salud humana, lo que lo convierte en una herramienta versatil e importante para el futuro en investigacion, permitiendo estudios de conservacion, taxonomicos o de reconstruccion filogeneticos. Para lograr esto, se usa el procedimiento de metabarcoding, el cual se basa en obtener DNA de cualquier origen (en este caso eDNA), en ausencia fisica o no del organismo, con apoyo de la reaccion en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR), para finalmente, secuenciarlos y obtener codigos de barras. Los estudios de eDNA probablemente se constituiran como un enfoque esencial para diversas tareas cientificas no solo en el seguimiento de la biodiversidad, sino en el analisis de la salud humana o la generacion de codigos de barras de DNA. EnglishEnvironmental deoxyribonucleic acid or environmental DNA (eDNA) is a term coined to define the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that can be recovered or detected in an environment (for example: soil, air, or water) sample, but not specimen physically present (metagenome). The objective of this review was to understand, analyze, and define the uses, applications, and potential of eDNA. eDNA brings together several fields ranging from ecological assessment for historical community reconstruction, ecosystem restoration to human health, making it extremely versatile and important for the future in research, such as studies of conservation, taxonomic, or phylogenetic reconstruction. To achieve this, the metabarcoding procedure is used, which is based on obtaining DNA of any origin (in this case eDNA), in the physical absence or not of organisms, with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to finally sequence them and develop barcodes. The application of eDNA in biological research seems almost limitless, but it requires collaboration and coordination of scientific teams. eDNA studies will probably become an essential tool for different scientific tasks not only in monitoring biodiversity, but also in human health analysis or in the development of DNA barcodes.

Even though seaweeds have been considered a nutrient-rich dietary source of minerals in other parts of the world, there is little knowledge about trace element accumulation in seaweeds of the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Gulf is of particular interest due to being an extreme environment, as it features some of the highest temperatures and salinities observed in any marine waters in the world. This study determined the minerals contents using inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in 10 of the most common seaweeds of this region (Iyengaria stellata, Padina boergesenii, Chondria sp., Feldmannia indica, Codium papillatum, Sargassum aquifolium, Ulva chaugulii, Ulva tepida and Ulva sp.) supported by morphological and molecular (DNA barcode)-based identification. The finding of U. chaugulii reported here is a new record for Kuwait. Most of the seaweeds were rich in essential minerals including Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe and Zn and their contents were higher than those of other mineral-rich foods. Principal component analysis revealed species-specific distributions of minerals in seaweeds. U. tepida and I. stellata were found to be exceptionally rich in most of the macro- and trace elements along with low As and Se, and thus can be utilized for food and feed applications.

The genus Tomosvaryella Aczél, 1939 is revised from the Middle East. Fifty-nine species are recorded and 19 of these are new to science: T. acantha Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. ampliasa Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. anahitae Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. bistounensis Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. cyprusensis Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. ellipiensis Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. emaratensis Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. hamounensis Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. kiansiae Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. nimroozensis Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. oshidae Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. osteodes Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. saudiensis Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. soziana Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. spinula Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. subtransvaalensis Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. susa Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov., T. unicorna Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov. and T. yemenensis Motamedinia & Skevington sp. nov. are described and illustrated based on sequence information from the mitochondrial COI barcoding gene and morphological parameters. DNA barcodes are provided for 37 of the 59 species. Descriptions of new species, diagnoses, distribution maps and an illustrated key for all species are provided.

Most migratory aquatic birds are regarded as reservoir hosts for many parasitic diseases, including digenetic trematodes that cause significant losses to farmed fish. However, in Tanzania, studies ...

Determining the temporal community composition of fish eggs in particular regions and understanding the reproductive times of regional fish taxa are key aspects of the management and regulation of regional fish stocks. However, it is extremely difficult to accurately identify fish eggs due to the absence of diagnostic morphological characters. We sampled fish eggs in the lower Hongshuihe River (an upper mainstem of the Pearl River) between May and September 2020. We then used DNA barcoding to determine the species composition of the egg pool and to predict the spawning periods of the identified species. A total of 641 eggs and 17 larvae were chosen for molecular identification; 397 eggs and 17 larvae yielded high‐quality barcoding sequences. The high failure rate (~38%) was most likely due to long‐term storage in low concentrations of ethanol prior to molecular analysis. We successfully classified 392 eggs into 10 species and 13 larvae into four species using public databases. Most of the species identified in the egg pool were small and/or benthic, and migratory species were rare. This may partially reflect the adverse effects of hydropower cascade development in this river section. We also found that spawning periods tended to be species‐specific. Our study provides a reference for the conservation and management of regional fishery stocks., We sampled fish eggs in the lower Hongshuihe River (an upper mainstem of the Pearl River) between May and September 2020. We then used DNA barcoding to determine the species composition of the egg pool and to predict the spawning periods of the identified species.

This study presents the diversity of mosquitoes collected from communes, endemic with malaria and dengue, located in Khanh Hoa and Binh Phuoc Provinces, Vietnam. A total of 10,288 mosquitoes were collected in the village and forested sites using standard larval dippers, cow-baited traps, ultra-violet light traps, and mechanical aspirators. Mosquito taxa were identified morphologically and species complexes/groups were further characterized molecularly. Five genera of mosquitoes were morphologically identified: Anopheles Meigen (21 species), Aedes Meigen (2 species), Culex Linnaeus (5 species), Mansonia Blanchard sp., and Armigeres Theobald sp. The PCR-based identification methods allowed the distinction of members of Maculatus Group, Funestus Group, and Dirus Complex; and DNA barcodes enabled the further identification of the Barbirostris Complex. Data reported here include the first report of An. saeungae Taai & Harbach and An. wejchoochotei Taai & Harbach from Vietnam, and re-emphasizes the significance of using molecular data in an integrated systematic approach to identify cryptic species and better understand their role in disease transmission.

DNA barcodes in species tagging have become a popular tool for taking inventories of species from different groups worldwide. The present study aimed to generate DNA barcodes of butterfly species from the Western Himalayas in Uttarakhand, India. The Indian Western Himalayan region (IWHR) has been explored to a limited extent about butterfly species’ diversity. However, the IWHR is prone to environmental change, and slight variations in climatic conditions can influence species diversity and change butterflies' range. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene was first used to generate the DNA barcode for butterflies from this region on a broad scale. 28 morphologically identified species, consisting of 102 sequences, were finally grouped into 26 species, with only two species showing ambiguity in species identification. These species had

The Afrotropical representatives of the hover fly genusMesembriusRondani, 1857 (Diptera) are divided into two subgenera, namelyMesembriuss.s. andVadonimyiaSéguy, 1951 and, in this present work, the subgenus Mesembrius s.s. is revised. A total of 23Mesembriuss.s. species are recognised for the Afrotropics. Known species are re-described and six species new to science are described:Mesembrius arcuatussp. nov.,M. copelandisp. nov.,M. longipilosussp. nov.,M. sulcussp. nov.,M. tibialissp. nov.andM. vockerothisp. nov.Mesembrius africanus(Verrall, 1898) is considered a junior synonym ofM. senegalensis(Macquart, 1842),M. cteniferHull, 1941 a junior synonym ofM. caffer(Loew, 1858),M. lagopus(Loew, 1869) a junior synonym ofM. capensis(Macquart, 1842) andM. platytarsisCurran, 1929 a junior synonym ofM. simplicipesCurran, 1929. The females ofMesembrius chapiniCurran, 1939,M. rexCurran, 1927 andM. regulus(Hull, 1937) are described for the first time. Lectotypes are designated forMesembrius caffer,M. capensis,M. cyanipennis(Bezzi, 1915),M. minor(Bezzi, 1915),M. senegalensis,M. strigilatus(Bezzi, 1912) andM. tarsatus(Bigot, 1883). Separate identification keys for males and females are presented. We obtained 236 DNA barcodes for 18 species. The relationships amongst the differentMesembriusspecies are briefly discussed, based on morphological and DNA barcode data.

Genitalia morphology of a new gnorimoschemine micromoth (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae, Gelechiinae, Gnorimoschemini) discovered in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile, fits the original description of Scrobipalpulopsis Povolný, 1987, a genus previously synonymized with Scrobipalpula Povolný, 1964. The generic assignment of the new species was assessed using a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. The new species, the type species of Scrobipalpulopsis and another species recently transferred from this genus to Scrobipalpula were grouped in a monophyletic cluster distantly related to that of Scrobipalpula. Furthermore, an ancestral state reconstruction analysis suggested that the presence of two pairs of processes on the vinculum in the male genitalia represents a synapomorphy for the cluster of three species. Accordingly, the revalidation of Scrobipalpulopsis gen. rev. (type species Phthorimaea stirodes Meyrick, 1931) and the reinstated combination Scrobipalpulopsis lutescella (Clarke, 1934) comb. rev. are proposed. The micromoth Scrobipalpulopsis aguilaensis sp. nov., whose larvae feed on inflorescences of the Chilean endemic Glandularia gynobasis (Verbenaceae), is described and illustrated. Genetic divergence with congenerics was found to be 2.5–4.4% (K2P). This discovery represents the first record of Scrobipalpulopsis from the Atacama Desert.

Species of Talaromyces are cosmopolitan and ubiquitous, and some are of industrial and medicinal importance. Species of Talaromyces have been successively reported in China. During our examinations of samples collected from southwestern China, two new species belonging to Talaromyces sect. Talaromyces were further discovered based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons. Talaromyces ginkgonis sp. nov., isolated from a partially colonized fruit of Ginkgo biloba, differs from closely-related fungi in the combination of conidia ellipsoidal, smooth and 3.5−4 × 2−3 μm, no growth on CYA at 37 °C and sequence divergences; T. shilinensis sp. nov. is distinguished from its related allies in the combination of smooth conidia, colonies 10−11 mm diameter on CYA at 25 °C and sequence differences. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the new taxa are given.

Our perception of reef diversity is dominated by corals, fish, and a few other groups that visibly dominate the reef surface. However, the bulk of reef biodiversity resides within the reef framework, and this cryptobiota is fundamentally important for the surface community. Sponges are abundant and conspicuous on the reef surface in productive, continental reefs, but largely vanish from surveys of the oligotrophic reefs of Oceania. However, their diversity in the cryptobiota remains poorly characterized. Here, we explore the contribution of cryptobenthic sponges to overall sponge diversity on 1750 m2 of reef habitat in Kāneʻohe Bay and Waimanalo in the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. We also assessed cryptic sponges using 15 m2 of autonomous reef monitoring structures (ARMS) deployed in this same area. We used integrative taxonomy combining morphology, COI and 28S barcoding to delineate and track species, most of which are poorly known or undescribed. We documented 186 OTUs, 150 of which are new records for the Hawaiian Islands, increasing the known sponge fauna of Kāneʻohe Bay by 3.5-fold, and that of the Hawaiian Islands by 2.5-fold. More than ¾ of the sponge OTUs were cryptobenthic. Reef sampling provided access to 31% (44 OTUs), whereas 52% (75 OTUs) were retrieved exclusively from ARMS. These results illustrate that the interstices of ARMS units provide suitable habitat for settlement of cryptobenthic sponges that would otherwise be impossible to access through traditional field surveys. Tracking species with provisional names, using integrative species delineation anchored to vouchers, images, and DNA barcodes provides a powerful approach for working with such a poorly understood fauna.

A long tradition of separate Nearctic and Palaearctic taxonomic studies of the diverse aleocharine rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) has obscured the recognition of Holarctic species and detection of adventive species in both regions. Recently, integrated study of the two regions through detailed morphological comparisons and development of an authoritatively identified DNA barcode reference library has revealed the degree to which these two aleocharine faunas are interconnected, both naturally and through human activity. Here this approach is adopted to recognize new species, reveal Holarctic species, and recognize adventive species in both North America and Europe. The following new species are described: Isoglossa triangularis Klimaszewski, Brunke & Pentinsaari, sp. nov. from British Columbia; Gnypeta impressicollis Klimaszewski, Brunke & Pentinsaari, sp. nov., from Ontario, Maryland and North Carolina; Aloconota pseudogregaria Klimaszewski, Brunke & Pentinsaari, sp. nov., from Ontario and Virginia; and Philhygra pseudolaevicollis Klimaszewski, Brunke & Pentinsaari, sp. nov. from eastern Canada. Dasygnypeta velata and Philhygra angusticauda are revealed to be Holarctic species, resulting in the following synonymies: Dasygnypeta velata (Erichson, 1839) = Gnypeta minuta Klimaszewski & Webster, 2008, syn. nov. and Philhygra angusticauda (Bernhauer, 1909) = Atheta (Philhygra) pinegensis Muona, 1983, syn. nov. The Nearctic species Hylota ochracea (and genus Hylota), Thecturota tenuissima, and Trichiusa robustula are newly reported from the Palaearctic region as adventive, resulting in the following synonymies: Hylota ochracea Casey, 1906 = Stichoglossa (Dexiogyia) forticornis Strand, 1939, syn. nov.; Thecturota tenuissima Casey, 1893 = Atheta marchii Dodero, 1922, syn. nov.; and Trichiusa robustula Casey, 1893 = T. immigrata Lohse, 1984, syn. nov. The Palaearctic species Amarochara forticornis, Anomognathus cuspidatus, Oligota pumilio, and Parocyusa rubicunda are newly confirmed from the Nearctic region as adventive, resulting in the following synonymies: Parocyusa rubicunda (Erichson, 1837) = Chilopora americana Casey, 1906, syn. nov. and Anomognathus cuspidatus (Erichson, 1839) = Thectura americana Casey, 1893, syn. nov. The genus Dasygnypeta, sensu nov. is newly reported from North America, Paradilacra is newly reported from eastern North America, and Haploglossa is newly reported from Canada, resulting in the following synonymy: Paradilacra densissima (Bernhauer, 1909) = Gnypeta saccharina Klimaszewski & Webster, 2008, syn. nov. Native Cyphea wallisi is newly reported from across Canada and C. curtula is removed from the Nearctic fauna. The status of both Gyrophaena affinis and Homalota plana is uncertain but these species are no longer considered to be adventive in North America. Three new combinations are proposed: Dasygnypeta baranowskii (Klimaszewski, 2020) and D. nigrella (LeConte, 1863) (both from Gnypeta) and Mocyta scopula (Casey, 1893) (from Acrotona). Dolosota Casey, 1910, syn. nov. (type species Eurypronota scopula Casey), currently a subgenus of Acrotona, is therefore synonymized with Mocyta Mulsant & Rey, 1874. Additionally, four new Canadian records and 18 new provincial and state records are reported.

Thirty-five new species of the Pimoa Chamberlin & Ivie, 1943 are described from Pan-Himalaya: P. anning Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. bomi Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. cawarong Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. daman Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. danba Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. deqen Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. dongjiu Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. guiqing Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. gyaca Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. gyara Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. gyirong Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. heishui Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. jinchuan Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. khaptad Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. koshi Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. lhatog Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. mechi Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. miandam Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. miero Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. mude Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. muli Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. naran Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. ninglang Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. nyalam Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. phaplu Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. putou Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. rara Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. sangri Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. shigatse Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. tengchong Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. xiahe Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. yejiei Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀), P. yele Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. zayu Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. zhigangi Zhang & Li, sp. nov. (♀). The DNA barcodes of the thirty-five new species are provided.

Culex tritaeniorhynchus Gile is a major vector of Japanese encephalitis in China. The population genetics study is crucial as it helps understanding the epidemiological aspects of mosquito-brone di...

Spiders of the genusClubionaLatreille, 1804 from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China are studied. A total of 47 species is reported and illustrated, including 14 new species and two new synonyms. Twelve of the new species belong to four species groups:C. dengpaoYu & Li,sp. nov.,C. subdidentataYu & Li,sp. nov.,C. tixingYu & Li,sp. nov.,C. xiaociYu & Li,sp. nov.,C. xiaokongYu & Li,sp. nov.,C. yejieiYu & Li,sp. nov.,C. zhaoiYu & Li,sp. nov.andC. zhigangiYu & Li,sp. nov.from theC. corticalisgroup;C. miiYu & Li,sp. nov.andC. subtongiYu & Li,sp. nov.from theC. ternatensisgroup;C. bannaYu & Li,sp. nov.from theC. filicatagroup; andC. menglunYu & Li,sp. nov.from theC. trivialisgroup. The remaining two new species,C. shuangsiYu & Li,sp. nov.andC. wangchengiYu & Li,sp. nov., are not readily assignable to any of the existing species groups. The female ofC. cochlearisYu & Li, 2019, the female ofC. tianeYu & Li, 2019, the female ofC. bicornisYu & Li, 2019, the male ofC. lalaJäger & Dankittipakul, 2010 and the true female ofC. suthepicaDankittipakul, 2008 are described for the first time. Two new synonyms are:C. vukomiJäger & Dankittipakul, 2010syn. nov. =C. circulataZhang & Yin, 1998;C. melanotheleThorell, 1895syn. nov. =Clubiona melanostictaThorell, 1890. A checklist ofClubionaspecies from Xishuangbanna is provided. The DNA barcodes of almost all of the species were obtained for species delimitation, matching of sexes and future use.

This study describes the molecular characterization of marine and coastal fishes of Bangladesh based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene as a marker. A total of 376 mitochondrial COI barcode sequences were obtained from 185 species belonging to 146 genera, 74 families, 21 orders, and two classes of fishes. The mean length of the sequences was 652 base pairs. In Elasmobranchii (Sharks and rays), the average Kimura two parameter (K2P) distances within species, genera, families, and orders were 1.20%, 6.07%, 11.08%, and 14.68%, respectively, and for Actinopterygii, the average K2P distances within species, genera, families, and orders were 0.40%, 6.36%, 14.10%, and 24.07%, respectively. The mean interspecies distance was 16‐fold higher than the mean intraspecies distance. The K2P neighbor‐joining (NJ) trees based on the sequences generally clustered species in accordance with their taxonomic position. A total of 21 species were newly recorded in Bangladesh. High efficiency and fidelity in species identification and discrimination were demonstrated in the present study by DNA barcoding, and we conclude that COI sequencing can be used as an authentic identification marker for Bangladesh marine fish species., This study attempted to molecular characterization of marine and coastal fishes of Bangladesh based on COI gene as a marker. A total of 376 mitochondrial COI barcode sequences were obtained from 185 species belonging to 146 genera, 74 families, 20 orders, and two classes of fishes. Our barcode data can define the diversity of marine fishes across genera, families, and orders. A total of 21 species were newly recorded in Bangladesh. This is the first comprehensive barcode reference library for marine and coastal fishes of Bangladesh.

The Korean species of Cotachena were reviewed, based on morphological characters and DNA barcodes. Our study recognized three species of Cotachena from Korea: C. alysoni Whalley, C. brunnealis Yamanaka and C. taiwanalis Yamanaka. The latter two were new to Korea. Dubious occurrence of C. pubescens (Warren) in Korea was discussed. The 23 individuals of COI barcodes were analyzed and assigned to the eleven species of Cotachena. The DNA barcodes of C. taiwanalis and C. brunnealis were provided for the first time and their taxonomic status was discussed. Host plants of C. taiwanalis were first reported. The Korean species of Cotachena were compared to the conspecific populations from neighboring countries. Photographs of habitus and genital features were provided for the Korean Cotachena, if available, to facilitate identification.

Seamounts are well known for the high biodiversity and endemism of their macrobenthic fauna. Hundreds of squat lobster species from seamount environments have been reported in recent years, but squat lobster fauna on the seamount groups around ocean trenches in the tropical West Pacific are still poorly known. In this paper, we describe 11 new species (two Munida, three Munidopsis, one Sternostylus, one Uroptychodes and four Uroptychus) based on specimens collected during expeditions to seamounts around the Yap Trench and Mariana Trench. Of these species, six belong to the superfamily Chirostyloidea and five belong to Galatheoidea. We also provide DNA barcode data for three genes to support the taxonomic status of these new species. The morphological variations, genetic differentiation and phylogenetic relationships of these species are discussed.

The current interpretation of two common European species, Mordellistena minima Costa, 1854 and M. pseudorhenana Ermisch, 1977, is based on misidentification. The confusion regarding the identity of the species is fixed based on the revised type material. Here, the species are redescribed, and diagnostic characters are provided. Mordellistena pseudorhenana is revalidated. Mordellistena emeryi Schilsky, 1895 is recognised as a new synonym of M. minima. Mordellistena sajoi Ermisch, 1977 is recognised as a new synonym of M. pseudorhenana. Lectotype and paralectotypes of M. emeryi are designated. Mordellistena pseudorhenana is reported for the first time from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Two morphotypes of M. pseudorhenana differing in size and shape of the parameres are recognised. Morphological differences are quantified and displayed using principal component analysis. In addition, DNA barcodes have been used for the first time in family Mordellidae to examine the divergences between the species and to interpret the morphological variability observed in M. pseudorhenana. Low genetic divergences did not provide the evidence for considering the morphotypes as separate species. The discrepancy between the morphological and molecular evidence raises questions about the efficiency of the CO1 gene for Mordellidae identification and the stability of morphological traits conventionally used for species separation.

DNA barcodes are widely used for species identification and biogeographic studies. Here, we compare the use of full mitochondrial genomes versus DNA barcodes and other mitochondrial DNA fragments for biogeographic and ecological analyses. Our dataset comprised 120 mitochondrial genomes from the genus Clunio (Diptera: Chironomidae), comprising five populations from two closely related species (Clunio marinus and Clunio balticus) and three ecotypes. We extracted cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) barcodes and partitioned the mitochondrial genomes into non-overlapping windows of 750 or 1500 bp. Haplotype networks and diversity indices were compared for these windows and full mitochondrial genomes (15.4 kb). Full mitochondrial genomes indicate complete geographic isolation between populations, but do not allow for conclusions on the separation of ecotypes or species. COI barcodes have comparatively few polymorphisms, ideal for species identification, but do not resolve geographic isolation. Many of the similarly sized 750 bp windows have higher nucleotide and haplotype diversity than COI barcodes, but still do not resolve biogeography. Only when increasing the window size to 1500 bp, two windows resolve biogeography reasonably well. Our results suggest that the design and use of DNA barcodes in biogeographic studies must be carefully evaluated for each investigated species.

The current decline of wild bees puts important ecosystem services such as pollination at risk. Both inventory and monitoring programs are needed to understand the causes of wild bee decline. Effective insect monitoring relies on both mass-trapping methods coupled with rapid and accurate identifications. Identifying wild bees using only morphology can be challenging, in particular, specimens from mass-trapped samples which are often in poor condition. We generated DNA barcodes for 2931 specimens representing 157 species (156 named and one unnamed species) and 28 genera. Automated cluster delineation reveals 172 BINs (Barcodes Index Numbers). A total of 36 species (22.93%) were found in highly urbanized areas. The majority of specimens, representing 96.17% of the species barcoded form reciprocally exclusive groups, allowing their unambiguous identification. This includes several closely related species notoriously difficult to identify. A total of 137 species (87.26%) show a “one-to-one” match between a named species and the BIN assignment. Fourteen species (8.92%) show deep conspecific lineages with no apparent morphological differentiation. Only two species pairs shared the same BIN making their identification with DNA barcodes alone uncertain. Therefore, our DNA barcoding reference library allows reliable identification by non-experts for the vast majority of wild bee species in the Loire Valley.

Pufferfish is a traditional, delicious dish in Asia. However, eating wild or improperly processed pufferfish causes serious poisoning. This study aimed to exploit the high-resolution melting (HRM) method for authenticating four species of Takifugu pufferfish (Takifugu xanthopterus, T. fasciatus, T. flavidus, and T. rubripes). Candidate DNA barcodes, including the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), cytochrome oxidase b (Cytb), and the control region (D-loop), were analyzed, with COI selected as the optimal DNA barcode. An HRM method was developed to identify 57 commercial fish samples in China, including 33 commercial pufferfish products and 24 unlabeled fish products. The findings revealed that the pufferfish products were T. rubripes or T. fasciatus, and four T. xanthopterus samples were detected in unlabeled fish products. These results showed that DNA barcode coupled with HRM analysis was a rapid and efficient tool to identify pufferfish, which might aid in the prevention of consumer fraud or mislabeling of fish products.

Varietal identification has attained prime importance at a global level particularly in the context of plant variety protection. In this study, forty-six traits were characterized for the establishment of the sheer distinctness among eighteen rice varieties. Morphologically, out of forty-six traits, twenty-five traits did not display any variation among the varieties studied. Significant variations were observed for 21 traits which are relatively more informative in the identification/characterization. Distinctness, uniformity and stability-based fingerprints specific to the studied varieties were developed based on the variations. A total of 175 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were screened for polymorphism; 53 hypervariable polymorphic SSR markers were utilized for fingerprinting of rice varieties. A total of 151 alleles were detected in these 53 SSR markers with an amplification size ranging from 120 to 750 bp and the allelic range of 2–4. The average number of alleles observed was 2.84 per locus. The PIC values of 53 SSRs ranged from 0.03 (RM 12983) to 0.64 (RM 11449) with an average of 0.40. The generated allelic variations of 53 SSR markers for the varieties were translated into DNA barcode profiles by separating the allele size from each SSR locus. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with five markers (RM 21392, RM 1388, RM 6699, RM 25754 and RM 16913) was used to identify rice varieties based on the band positions. This study classifies and identifies rice varieties and is an important reference to test the authenticity and varietal purity of other rice varieties in the future. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/13102818.2021.1987324 .

The present contribution is the first record of ornamental freshwater shrimp Caridina babaulti from European open waters and the first evidence of introduction outside its native range. Among 120 non-native freshwater shrimps collected in Miskolctapolca, Hungary, seven individuals (5.8%) were identified as C. babaulti and included one ovigerous female, while the others (94.2%) were Neocaridina davidi. Morphological analysis and the Standard DNA Barcoding Procedure confirmed the taxonomic identification of the two species. The presence of C. babaulti in Miskolctapolca is most likely due to intentional or unintentional releases by aquarium owners. The low number of captured individuals and this species’ absence in a previous survey suggest that the shrimp is of recent introduction. C. babaulti and the well-established N. davidi have similar environmental tolerance; hence, this species might potentially form a viable population if not removed.

The use of suitable DNA barcodes and the generation of databases with reference sequences have been considered a promissory approach for the identification of Chlorophyta and Cyanophyta microalgae. In this study, we carried out a molecular characterization and identification of strains isolated from freshwater systems in Ecuador using a dual barcode method. The target sequences for Chlorophyta were 18S rDNA and rbcL genes, and 16S rDNA and 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer (ITS) for Cyanophyta. We reported these DNA barcodes for 20 different Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) for Chlorophyta and 10 for Cyanophyta. Our results show that the 18S V4 hypervariable region (300 bp) is sufficient for differentiating between isolates, but rbcL is a determinant for genus identification in Scenedesmaceae and Chlorellaceae strains. In Cyanophyta, both barcodes enabled the genus-level assignment of 9 out of 10 MOTUs. These results highlight the necessity of a second barcode additional to small ribosomal subunit sequences to improve molecular identification. Furthermore, the present study significantly contributes to the body of Ecuadorian barcode sequences of microalgae that are currently documented, making them available for future comparative diversity studies.

Ancyronyx lianlabangorumsp. nov. (Coleoptera, Elmidae), a new spider riffle beetle from the Kelabit Highlands (Sarawak, northern Borneo), is described. Illustrations of the habitus and diagnostic characters of the new species and the similar, polymorphic A. pulcherrimus Kodada et al. are presented. Differences to closely related species, based on COI nucleotide sequences and morphological characters, are discussed. Ancyronyx pulcherrimus is here recorded from Sarawak for the first time, based on DNA barcoding.