Scheda di dettaglio – i prodotti della ricerca
| Dato | Valore |
|---|---|
| Title | Metagenetic tools for biodiversity surveys of the meiofauna |
| Abstract | Molecular tools have revolutionized the exploration of biodiversity, especially in organisms for which traditional taxonomy is difficult, such as for microscopic animals (meiofauna). Metagenetics surveys of DNA extracted from sediment samples are increasingly popular for surveying biodiversity. However, different markers and metrics used for delimiting species have not yet been evaluated against each other or against morphologically defined species (morphospecies). We assessed more than 12,000 meiofaunal sequences of the nuclear gene-encoding small subunit rDNA gene (18S) and of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), belonging to 55 datasets covering three taxonomic ranks. Our results show that 18S reduced diversity estimates by a factor of 0.4 relative to morphospecies, whereas COI increased diversity estimates by a factor of 7.6. Moreover, estimates of species richness using COI were robust among three of four commonly used delimitation metrics, whereas estimates using 18S varied widely with the different metrics. We show that meiofaunal diversity has been greatly underestimated by metagenetics surveys using 18S and that the use of COI provides a better estimate of diversity. The suitability of COI is supported by cross-mating experiments in the literature and evolutionary analyses of discreteness in patterns of genetic variation. Furthermore its splitting of morphospecies is expected from documented levels of cryptic taxa in exemplar meiofauna. We recommend against using 18S as a marker for biodiversity surveys and suggest that use of COI for eDNA surveys could provide more accurate estimates of species richness in the future. |
| Source | International Conference on Challenges in Aquatic Sciences, Keelung, Taiwan, 15-21 marzo 2013 |
| Keywords | MeiofaunaMetagenetics |
| Year | 2013 |
| Type | Abstract in atti di convegno |
| Authors | Diego Fontaneto; Cuong Tang |
| Text | 286705 2013 Meiofauna Metagenetics Metagenetic tools for biodiversity surveys of the meiofauna Diego Fontaneto; Cuong Tang Fontaneto, Diego CNR ISE, Pallanza Verbania Tang, Cuong Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, Berkshire, United Kingdom International Conference on Challenges in Aquatic Sciences Published version In International COnference on Challenges in Aquatic Sciences Keelung, Taiwan, 15 21 marzo 2013 . Abstract, pp. 183 183. National Taiwan Ocean Unviersity, 2013. International Conference on Challenges in Aquatic Sciences Keelung, Taiwan 15 21 marzo 2013 Internazionale Contributo Molecular tools have revolutionized the exploration of biodiversity, especially in organisms for which traditional taxonomy is difficult, such as for microscopic animals meiofauna . Metagenetics surveys of DNA extracted from sediment samples are increasingly popular for surveying biodiversity. However, different markers and metrics used for delimiting species have not yet been evaluated against each other or against morphologically defined species morphospecies . We assessed more than 12,000 meiofaunal sequences of the nuclear gene encoding small subunit rDNA gene 18S and of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I COI , belonging to 55 datasets covering three taxonomic ranks. Our results show that 18S reduced diversity estimates by a factor of 0.4 relative to morphospecies, whereas COI increased diversity estimates by a factor of 7.6. Moreover, estimates of species richness using COI were robust among three of four commonly used delimitation metrics, whereas estimates using 18S varied widely with the different metrics. We show that meiofaunal diversity has been greatly underestimated by metagenetics surveys using 18S and that the use of COI provides a better estimate of diversity. The suitability of COI is supported by cross mating experiments in the literature and evolutionary analyses of discreteness in patterns of genetic variation. Furthermore its splitting of morphospecies is expected from documented levels of cryptic taxa in exemplar meiofauna. We recommend against using 18S as a marker for biodiversity surveys and suggest that use of COI for eDNA surveys could provide more accurate estimates of species richness in the future. Abstract 2013_Abstract_Fontaneto_Taiwan.pdf Abstract in atti di convegno diego.fontaneto FONTANETO DIEGO TA.P04.016.004 Ecologia teorica e applicata degli ecosistemi acquatici |