BARCODING FAUNA BAVARICA: 7,000 SPECIES IN 30 MONTHS

HAUSMANN, A. (1), Haszprunar, G. (1), Hebert, P. (2)

(1) Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Munich, Germany
(2) Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada

Parallel Talk, Barcoding Biotas, Innova B17, Friday, 16:00 to 16:30

Despite a long tradition and intensive previous work in faunistics and zootaxonomy, Germany still lacks a comprehensive faunistic monograph for its more than 40,000 animal species. As DNA barcoding is a rapid, cost-effective alternative strategy for the identification of described species, for challenging existing species concepts, and for the discovery of new species, the Zoological Collection of the State of Bavaria activated the project ‘Barcoding Fauna Bavarica’ in January 2009, representing the first program to create a DNA barcode library for all animal species in a whole country. The project is performed in close cooperation with the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario under the framework of the International Barcode of Life Project and currently supported by a 5-year grant from the Bavarian State Government. Research activities involve an active network of private collectors, entomological associations, Nature Reserve authorities and other cooperating institutions. The DNA Bank facility at the ZSM holds DNA extracts for spin-off research projects.

By August 2011, DNA barcode records were available for approximately 7,000 animal species. Coverage is nearing completion for butterflies and moths (Macrolepidoptera), bees, grasshoppers and fishes. More than half of the known species total have been analyzed for the large groups of beetles and Microlepidoptera. Current results show that barcoding unambiguously discriminates about 99% of the species investigated so far, including some very similar species which cause significant identification problems using morphological approaches. Our analyses have led to the discovery of unexpected faunal elements, and have also revealed interesting cases of barcode similarity, barcode sharing, and deep intraspecific splits. Many more cases of deep intraspecific divergence result when comparisons extend to the whole of Europe, indicating that international collaboration, data-sharing and democratization of biodiversity information will significantly increase the taxonomic impacts of DNA barcoding.

Keywords: Insects, Pollinators, Invertebrates - Terrestrial, Invertebrates - Freshwater, Vertebrates, Fish, Birds, Barcoding Biotas, Quarantine/Plant Protection, Disease Vectors/Pathogens/Parasites, Environmental Quality Assessment, Endangered Species, Ecological Applications, Biorepositories and Collections