title: Using DNA barcoding to assess Caribbean reef fish biodiversity: expanding taxonomic and geographic coverage.
abstract: This paper represents a DNA barcode data release for 3,400 specimens representing 521 species of fishes from 6 areas across the Caribbean and western central Atlantic regions (FAO Region 31). Merged with our prior published data, the combined efforts result in 3,964 specimens representing 572 species of marine fishes and constitute one of the most comprehensive DNA barcoding "coverages" for a region reported to date. The barcode data are providing new insights into Caribbean shorefish diversity, allowing for more and more accurate DNA-based identifications of larvae, juveniles, and unknown specimens. Examples are given correcting previous work that was erroneous due to database incompleteness.
authors: Laboratories of Analytical Biology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States of America. weigtl@si.edu
authors: Lee A
authors: LA
authors: Weigt
authors: Carole C
authors: CC
authors: Baldwin
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Driskell
authors: David G
authors: DG
authors: Smith
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Ormos
authors: Eric A
authors: EA
authors: Reyier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D017691:Caribbean Region; D057894:Coral Reefs; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D005399:Fishes; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004247:DNA