title: Exploring the utility of DNA barcoding in species delimitation of Polypedilum (Tripodura) non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae).
abstract: In this study, we tested the utility of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) as the barcode region to deal with taxonomical problems of Polypedilum (Tripodura) non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae). The 114 DNA barcodes representing 27 morphospecies are divided into 33 well separated clusters based on both Neighbor Joining and Maximum Likelihood methods. DNA barcodes revealed an 82% success rate in matching with morphospecies. The selected DNA barcode data support 37-64 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on the methods of Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) and Poisson Tree Process (PTP). Furthermore, a priori species based on consistent phenotypic variations were attested by molecular analysis, and a taxonomical misidentification of barcode sequences from GenBank was found. We could not observe a distinct barcode gap but an overlap ranged from 9-12%. Our results supported DNA barcoding as an ideal method to detect cryptic species, delimit sibling species, and associate different life stages in non-biting midges.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 300071, Tianjin, China.; Email: songchao@mail.nankai.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Tianjin key Laboratory of Aqua-Ecology & Aquaculture, Fisheries of College, Tianjin Agricultural University, 300384, Tianjin, China.; Email: wqgt1999@163.com.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries and life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.; Email: rlzhang@shou.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ruilei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 300071, Tianjin, China.; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Bingjiao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 300071, Tianjin, China.; Email: xhwang@nankai.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xinhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D002683:Chironomidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010802:Phylogeny