Integrative taxonomy for continental-scale terrestrial insect observations.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Taxonomy
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Modern ecological studies rely on accurate species identification, a practice rooted in 18th-century science.
• Inaccurate species assignments in ecological research have led to significant financial and scientific repercussions.
• The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) requires robust taxonomic methods for its continental-scale, 30-year insect monitoring program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a molecular reference library for verifying species identifications within the NEON program.
• To evaluate the utility of molecular data for continental-scale, multi-decadal ecological research involving numerous researchers.
• To outline how this reference library will benefit diverse user communities in ecological research.

Main Methods:

• Development of a standardized, integrative taxonomic approach for NEON.
• Creation of a molecular reference library for key insect taxa (ground beetles and mosquitoes).
• Evaluation of molecular data integration for large-scale, long-term ecological monitoring.

Main Results:

• Establishment of a foundational reference library for species identification at NEON.
• Demonstration of molecular data's feasibility for continental-scale, multi-decadal ecological research.
• Identification of key benefits and applications of the reference library for various research communities.

Conclusions:

• A molecular reference library is essential for ensuring taxonomic accuracy in large-scale ecological monitoring programs like NEON.
• The developed library will enhance the reliability and comparability of ecological data across broad spatial and temporal scales.
• This resource will support a wide range of ecological research and conservation efforts by providing a validated identification tool.