title: Barcoding Chrysomelidae: a resource for taxonomy and biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean Region.
abstract: The Mediterranean Region is one of the world's biodiversity hot-spots, which is also characterized by high level of endemism. Approximately 2100 species of leaf beetle (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae) are known from this area, a number that increases year after year and represents 5/6% of the known species. These features, associated with the urgent need to develop a DNA-based species identification approach for a broad spectrum of leaf beetle species, prompted us to develop a database of nucleotide sequences, with a solid taxonomic background, for all the Chrysomelidae Latreille, 1802 sensu latu inhabiting the Mediterranean region. The Mediterranean Chrysomelidae Barcoding project, which has started in 2009, involves more than fifty entomologists and molecular biologists from different European countries. Numerous collecting campaigns have been organized during the first seven years of the project, which led to the collection of more than 5000 leaf beetle specimens. In addition, during these collecting campaigns two new allochthonous species for Europe, namely Ophraella communa LeSage, 1986 and Colasposoma dauricum Mannerheim, 1849, were intercepted and some species new to science were discovered (e.g., Pachybrachis sassii Montagna, 2011 and Pachybrachis holerorum Montagna et al., 2013). DNA was extracted from 1006 specimens (~13% of the species inhabiting the Mediterranean region) and a total of 910 cox1 gene sequences were obtained (PCR amplification efficiency of 93.8%). Here we report the list of the barcoded subfamilies, genera and the number of species for which cox1 gene sequences were obtained; the metadata associated with each specimen and a list of problematic species for which marker amplification failed. In addition, the nucleotide divergence within and between species and genera was estimated and values of intraspecific nucleotide divergence greater than the average have been discussed. Cryptocephalus quadripunctatus G. A. Olivier, 1808, Cryptocephalus rugicollis G. A. Olivier, 1791 and Exosoma lusitanicum Linnaeus, 1767) are representatives of these cases.
authors.affiliation: Via Ronche di Sopra 21, 31046 Oderzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magoga
authors.affiliation: Centro di Entomologia Alpina-Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sassi
authors.affiliation: Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona, lungadige Porta Vittoria 9, 37129 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daccordi
authors.affiliation: Museo di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia 55, 20121 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources-University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirzaei
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente-Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Regalin
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali-Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lozzia
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali-Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montagna
keywords: C-bar project; Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1; DNA barcoding; Leaf beetles; molecular taxonomy