title: DNA barcode reference library for Iberian butterflies enables a continental-scale preview of potential cryptic diversity.
abstract: How common are cryptic species--those overlooked because of their morphological similarity? Despite its wide-ranging implications for biology and conservation, the answer remains open to debate. Butterflies constitute the best-studied invertebrates, playing a similar role as birds do in providing models for vertebrate biology. An accurate assessment of cryptic diversity in this emblematic group requires meticulous case-by-case assessments, but a preview to highlight cases of particular interest will help to direct future studies. We present a survey of mitochondrial genetic diversity for the butterfly fauna of the Iberian Peninsula with unprecedented resolution (3502 DNA barcodes for all 228 species), creating a reliable system for DNA-based identification and for the detection of overlooked diversity. After compiling available data for European butterflies (5782 sequences, 299 species), we applied the Generalized Mixed Yule-Coalescent model to explore potential cryptic diversity at a continental scale. The results indicate that 27.7% of these species include from two to four evolutionary significant units (ESUs), suggesting that cryptic biodiversity may be higher than expected for one of the best-studied invertebrate groups and regions. The ESUs represent important units for conservation, models for studies of evolutionary and speciation processes, and sentinels for future research to unveil hidden diversity.
authors.affiliation: 1] Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37, 08003, Barcelona, Spain [2] Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, N1G 2W1, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Vlad
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dincă
authors.affiliation: Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva (ICBiBE) - Universitat de València, Carrer Catedràtic José Beltrán 2, 46980, Paterna, Spain.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montagud
authors.affiliation: 1] Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37, 08003, Barcelona, Spain [2] Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA [3] Faculty of Biology and Soil Science, St Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Talavera
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Department of Biology, Campus Cantoblanco 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández-Roldán
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Department of Biology, Campus Cantoblanco 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Munguira
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Department of Biology, Campus Cantoblanco 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Barros
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, N1G 2W1, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul D N
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Hebert
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vila
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002080:Butterflies / Q000235:genetics*; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D013030:Spain