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Colour patterns do not diagnose species: quantitative evaluation of a DNA barcoded cryptic bumblebee complex.
James C Carolan1, Tomás E Murray, Úna Fitzpatrick
1Department of Biology, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Maynooth, Ireland. james.c.carolan@gmail.com
Plos One
|January 13, 2012
Summary
Cryptic diversity in bumblebees challenges conservation. Morphological identification of the Bombus lucorum complex queens is unreliable, necessitating DNA barcoding for accurate species diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Cryptic diversity in bumblebees (Bombus) can hinder conservation efforts.
- Accurate species identification is crucial for effective bumblebee conservation.
- The Bombus lucorum complex is vital for pollination in Northern Europe.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability of color-pattern characters for distinguishing species within the Bombus lucorum complex.
- To assess the impact of cryptic diversity on bumblebee conservation strategies.
Main Methods:
- DNA barcoding was used to identify molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) within the B. lucorum complex.
- Color-pattern variations in queens were analyzed and compared against molecular identifications.
Main Results:
- Three distinct MOTUs were identified, corresponding to three species.
- No unique color-pattern characters reliably distinguished between the three species.
- Observed color patterns showed continuous variation and were not species-specific.
Conclusions:
- Morphological identification of B. lucorum complex queens based on color patterns is unreliable.
- Previous studies relying on morphology may have misidentified species.
- DNA barcoding is essential for accurate taxonomic and conservation studies of these pollinators.
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