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A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
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Insect phylogenetics in the digital age.
Christopher H Dietrich1, Dmitry A Dmitriev1
1Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, 1816 S Oak St., Champaign, IL 61820, USA.
Current Opinion in Insect Science
|December 13, 2016
Summary
Digital tools are revolutionizing insect phylogenetics research. New web-based platforms and automated systems streamline data analysis and collaboration, accelerating the reconstruction of the Tree of Life.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Computational Biology
- Systematics
Background:
- Digital data management tools have been integral to insect phylogenetic research.
- Recent web-based platforms facilitate open-access data repositories and large-scale collaboration.
- These advancements accelerate the documentation of Earth's biota and the reconstruction of the Tree of Life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the potential of new digital tools in enhancing insect phylogenetics.
- To discuss streamlined workflows for capturing and analyzing phylogenetically relevant data.
- To outline future directions in automated, web-based systems for complete phylogenetic studies.
Main Methods:
- Leveraging web-based platforms for data repository creation and analysis.
- Utilizing digital tools to streamline phylogenetic study workflows.
- Integrating community access to supercomputing resources.
Main Results:
- Enhanced collaboration and data accessibility in insect phylogenetics.
- Efficient workflows for capturing and analyzing phylogenetically relevant data.
- Streamlined steps in phylogenetic studies through recent initiatives.
Conclusions:
- New digital tools significantly enhance insect phylogenetics research.
- Future automated systems promise end-to-end phylogenetic study completion via integrated portals.
- These advancements will contribute to a global synthesis of biological data and evolutionary relationships.
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