DNA barcodes special issue.

The journal Molecular Ecology Resources has just published a special issue on DNA barcoding. This is the result of a conference held at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Note the following from the introduction by my friends/colleagues Brian Golding, Bob Hanner, and Paul Hebert:

Despite some popular misconceptions, the goal of DNA barcoding is neither to determine the tree of life nor to carry out phylogenetic studies. The goal of DNA barcoding is also not molecular taxonomy, as it is not intended to replace classical taxonomy. Its purpose is to carry out species identifications so that even non-experts can determine what species might be at hand, and to do so in a rapid and inexpensive manner. This does not mean that barcodes lack phylogenetic information, or that the sequences do not contribute to taxonomic knowledge. Barcodes can provide evidence for cryptic species, and contribute to knowledge of phylogeny and biogeography. Each of these, however, requires corroboration from additional sources of information for robust support of the hypotheses generated by barcoding. For example, no one would attempt to reconstruct the phylogenetic history of the Diptera from 600 bp of mitochondrial sequence.

Central to the DNA barcoding enterprise is a database of previously identified reference specimens and their corresponding COI sequences. This requires taxonomists to apply their knowledge and to provide identifications of specimens that can then be barcoded. They must provide their intimate knowledge of the species ranges and morphologies to direct sampling strategies that would cover the greatest likely range of genetic variation. It is then these couplets of information that can be used to identify an unknown specimen.

Here are the papers, all open access thanks to support from NSERC and Genome Canada (before the cuts):

Molecular Ecology Resources

Volume 9 Issue s1 May 2009

Special Issue on Barcoding Life

Preface (p iv-vi)
G. B. GOLDING, R. HANNER, P. D. N. HEBERT
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02654.x

Abstract | PDF

KEYNOTE ARTICLE

Integration of DNA barcoding into an ongoing inventory of complex tropical biodiversity (p 1-26)
DANIEL H. JANZEN, WINNIE HALLWACHS, PATRICK BLANDIN, JOHN M. BURNS, JEAN-MARIE CADIOU, ISIDRO CHACON, TANYA DAPKEY, ANDREW R. DEANS, MARC E. EPSTEIN, BERNARDO ESPINOZA, JOHN G. FRANCLEMONT, WILLIAM A. HABER, MEHRDAD HAJIBABAEI, JASON P. W. HALL, PAUL D. N. HEBERT, IAN D. GAULD, DONALD J. HARVEY, AXEL HAUSMANN, IAN J. KITCHING, DON LAFONTAINE, JEAN-FRANÇOIS LANDRY, CLAUDE LEMAIRE, JACQUELINE Y. MILLER, JAMES S. MILLER, LEE MILLER, SCOTT E MILLER, JOSE MONTERO, EUGENE MUNROE, SUZANNE RAB GREEN, SUJEEVAN RATNASINGHAM, JOHN E. RAWLINS, ROBERT K. ROBBINS, JOSEPHINE J. RODRIGUEZ, RODOLPHE ROUGERIE, MICHAEL J. SHARKEY, M. ALEX SMITH, M. ALMA SOLIS, J. BOLLING SULLIVAN, PAUL THIAUCOURT, DAVID B. WAHL, SUSAN J. WELLER, JAMES B. WHITFIELD, KEITH R. WILLMOTT, D. MONTY WOOD, NORMAN E. WOODLEY, JOHN J. WILSON
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02628.x

Abstract | PDF

BARCODING METHODOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS

The front-end logistics of DNA barcoding: challenges and prospects (p 27-34)
ALEX V. BORISENKO, JAYME E. SONES, PAUL D. N. HEBERT
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02629.x

Abstract | PDF

Express barcodes: racing from specimen to identification (p 35-41)
NATALIA V. IVANOVA, ALEX V. BORISENKO, PAUL D. N. HEBERT
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02630.x

Abstract | PDF

DNA barcoding and the mediocrity of morphology (p 42-50)
LAURENCE PACKER, JASON GIBBS, CORY SHEFFIELD, ROBERT HANNER
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02631.x

Abstract | PDF

Biological agent detection technologies (p 51-57)
JOHN P. JAKUPCIAK, RITA R. COLWELL
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02632.x

Abstract | PDF

Efficient algorithms for the discovery of DNA oligonucleotide barcodes from sequence databases (p 58-64)
M. ZAHARIEV, V. DAHL, W. CHEN, C. A. LÉVESQUE
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02651.x

Abstract | PDF

BARCODING MICRO- AND MESO-FAUNA

Barcoding diatoms: Is there a good marker? (p 65-74)
MÓNICA B. J. MONIZ, IRENA KACZMARSKA
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02633.x

Abstract | PDF

Development of primers for the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene in digenetic trematodes (Platyhelminthes) illustrates the challenge of barcoding parasitic helminths (p 75-82)
ANNA MOSZCZYNSKA, SEAN A. LOCKE, J. DANIEL McLAUGHLIN, DAVID J. MARCOGLIESE, TERESA J. CREASE
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02634.x

Abstract | PDF

BARCODING FUNGI

Progress towards DNA barcoding of fungi (p 83-89)
KEITH A. SEIFERT
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02635.x

Abstract | PDF

Multiple copies of cytochrome oxidase 1 in species of the fungal genus Fusarium (p 90-98)
SCOTT R. GILMORE, TOM GRÄFENHAN, GERRY LOUIS-SEIZE, KEITH A. SEIFERT
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02636.x

Abstract | PDF

Evaluation of mitochondrial genes as DNA barcode for Basidiomycota (p 99-113)
AGATHE VIALLE, NICOLAS FEAU, MATHIEU ALLAIRE, MARYNA DIDUKH, FRANCIS MARTIN, JEAN-MARC MONCALVO, RICHARD C. HAMELIN
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02637.x

Abstract | PDF

A high density COX1 barcode oligonucleotide array for identification and detection of species of Penicillium subgenus Penicillium (p 114-129)
W. CHEN, K.A. SEIFERT, C.A. LÉVESQUE
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02638.x

Abstract | PDF

BARCODING PLANTS

Are plant species inherently harder to discriminate than animal species using DNA barcoding markers? (p 130-139)
ARON J. FAZEKAS, PRASAD R. KESANAKURTI, KEVIN S. BURGESS, DIANA M. PERCY, SEAN W. GRAHAM, SPENCER C. H. BARRETT, STEVEN G. NEWMASTER, MEHRDAD HAJIBABAEI, BRIAN C. HUSBAND
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02652.x

Abstract | PDF

Routine DNA barcoding of Canadian Gracilariales (Rhodophyta) reveals the invasive species Gracilaria vermiculophylla in British Columbia (p 140-150)
GARY W. SAUNDERS
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02639.x

Abstract | PDF

Plant DNA barcodes and species resolution in sedges (Carex, Cyperaceae) (p 151-163)
JULIAN R. STARR, ROBERT F. C. NACZI, BRIANNA N. CHOUINARD
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02640.x

Abstract | PDF

DNA barcoding discriminates a new cryptic grass species revealed in an ethnobotany study by the hill tribes of the Western Ghats in southern India (p 164-171)
SUBRAMANYAM RAGUPATHY, STEVEN G. NEWMASTER, MARUTHAKKUTTI MURUGESAN, VELUSAMY BALASUBRAMANIAM
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02641.x

Abstract | PDF

Testing plant barcoding in a sister species complex of pantropical Acacia (Mimosoideae, Fabaceae) (p 172-180)
STEVEN G. NEWMASTER, RAGUPATHY SUBRAMANYAM
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02642.x

Abstract | PDF

BARCODING ARTHROPODS

DNA barcoding of marine crustaceans from the Estuary and Gulf of St Lawrence: a regional-scale approach (p 181-187)
ADRIANA E. RADULOVICI, BERNARD SAINTE-MARIE, FRANCE DUFRESNE
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02643.x

Abstract | PDF

DNA barcodes to identify species and explore diversity in the Adelgidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) (p 188-195)
R. G. FOOTTIT, H. E. L. MAW, N. P. HAVILL, R. G. AHERN, M. E. MONTGOMERY
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02644.x

Abstract | PDF

DNA barcoding a regional bee (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) fauna and its potential for ecological studies (p 196-207)
CORY S. SHEFFIELD, PAUL D. N. HEBERT, PETER G. KEVAN, LAURENCE PACKER
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02645.x

Abstract | PDF

DNA barcode accumulation curves for understudied taxa and areas (p 208-216)
M. ALEX SMITH, JOSE FERNANDEZ-TRIANA, ROB ROUGHLEY, PAUL D. N. HEBERT
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02646.x

Abstract | PDF

Combining DNA barcoding and morphological analysis to identify specialist floral parasites (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae: Momphinae: Mompha) (p 217-223)
VIRGINIA J. EMERY, JEAN-FRANÇOIS LANDRY, CHRISTOPHER G. ECKERT
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02647.x

Abstract | PDF

Identification of Nearctic black flies using DNA barcodes (Diptera: Simuliidae) (p 224-236)
JULIO RIVERA, DOUGLAS C CURRIE
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02648.x

Abstract | PDF

BARCODING VERTEBRATES

DNA barcoding reveals overlooked marine fishes (p 237-242)
TYLER S. ZEMLAK, ROBERT D. WARD, ALLAN D. CONNELL, BRONWYN H. HOLMES, PAUL D. N. HEBERT
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02649.x

Abstract | PDF

Identifying sharks with DNA barcodes: assessing the utility of a nucleotide diagnostic approach (p 243-256)
EUGENE H.-K. WONG, MAHMOOD S. SHIVJI, ROBERT H. HANNER
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02653.x

Abstract | PDF

Countering criticisms of single mitochondrial DNA gene barcoding in birds (p 257-268)
ALLAN J. BAKER, ERIKA SENDRA TAVARES, REBECCA F. ELBOURNE
Published Online: Apr 21 2009 10:59AM
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02650.x

Abstract | PDF