Enhancing DNA barcode reference libraries by harvesting terrestrial arthropods at the National Museum of Natural History

Authors: SANTOS, B. - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center; MILLER MEREDITH - University Of Guelph; MIKLASEVSKAJA, MARGARITA - University Of Guelph; MCKEOWN, JACLYN - University Of Guelph; REDMOND, NAIMH - Smithsonian Institute; CODDINGTON, J. - Smithsonian Institute; BIRD, JESSICA - Smithsonian Institute; MILLER, SCOTT - Smithsonian Institute; SMITH, ASHTON - Smithsonian Institute; BRADY, SEAN - Smithsonian Institute; Buffington, Matthew; Chamorro, Maria; DIKOW, TORSTEN - Smithsonian Institute; Gates, Michael; Goldstein, Paul; Konstantinov, Alexander - Alex; Kula, Robert; SILVERSON, NICK - Smithsonian Institute; Solis, M Alma; NAIK, SURESH - University Of Guelph; NIKOLOVA, NADIA - University Of Guelph; PENTINSAARI, MIKK0 - University Of Guelph; PROSSER, SEAN - University Of Guelph; SONES, JAYME - University Of Guelph; ZAKHAROV, EVGENY - University Of Guelph; DEWAARD, J. - University Of British Columbia

Submitted to: Biodiversity Data Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2023
Publication Date: 4/24/2023
Citation: Santos, B., Miller Meredith, Miklasevskaja, M., Mckeown, J., Redmond, N., Coddington, J., Bird, J., Miller, S., Smith, A., Brady, S.G., Buffington, M.L., Chamorro, M.L., Dikow, T., Gates, M.W., Goldstein, P.Z., Konstantinov, A.S., Kula, R.R., Silverson, N., Solis, M.A., Naik, S., Nikolova, N., Pentinsaari, M., Prosser, S., Sones, J., Zakharov, E., Dewaard, J.R. 2023. Enhancing DNA barcode reference libraries by harvesting terrestrial arthropods at the National Museum of Natural History. Biodiversity Data Journal. 11:1-17. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.11.e100904.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.11.e100904

Interpretive Summary: Rapid and accurate identification of insects is critical to protecting Amercan agriculture and food safety therein. This paper is a massive collaborative effort between ARS and Smithsonian Institution to DNA 'barcode' large portions of the National Insect Collection. These barcode data can be used by other entomologists, worldwide, for rapid, and accurate, identifications of pestiferous and beneficial insects.

Technical Abstract: The use of DNA barcoding has revolutionized biodiversity science, but its application depends on the existence of comprehensive and reliable reference libraries. For many poorly known taxa, such reference sequences are missing even at higher-level taxonomic scales. We harvested the collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (USNM) to generate DNA barcoding sequences for genera of terrestrial arthropods previously not recorded in one or more major public sequence databases. Our workflow used a mix of Sanger and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) approaches to maximize sequence recovery while ensuring affordable cost. In total, COI sequences were obtained for 5,686 specimens belonging to 3,888 genera and 202 families. Success rates varied widely according to collection data and focal taxon. NGS helped recover sequences of specimens that failed a previous run of Sanger sequencing. Success rates and the optimal balance between Sanger and NGS are the most important drivers to maximize output and minimize cost in future projects. The corresponding sequence and taxonomic data can be accessed through the Barcode of Life Data System, GenBank, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, the Global Genome Biodiversity Network Data Portal and the NMNH data portal.