An expanded mammal mitogenome dataset from Southeast Asia

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Biodiversity Research
• Conservation Science

Background:

• Southeast Asia harbors significant global mammal diversity, yet much of its genetic information remains uncharacterized.
• Environmental DNA (eDNA) offers a powerful tool for species monitoring, but requires comprehensive reference databases for accurate identification.
• Existing mitogenome databases for Southeast Asian mammals are insufficient for robust eDNA-based assessments, particularly for threatened species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the data gap by generating new complete mammal mitogenome sequences from Southeast Asia.
• To enhance the reference database for mitochondrial DNA barcoding and mitogenomes.
• To improve the efficacy of eDNA methods for monitoring mammal populations, including threatened species.

Main Methods:

• DNA extraction from historical and modern tissue samples.
• High-throughput sequencing to generate approximately 55 gigabases of raw sequence data.
• Bioinformatic assembly of 72 complete mammal mitogenomes with high average coverage (×102.9 modern, ×55.2 historical).

Main Results:

• Successfully generated 72 complete mitogenome sequences representing 52 mammal species.
• 30 of the sequenced species lacked prior mitogenome data, significantly expanding available genetic resources.
• Geotagging of sequences provides geographical distribution data, crucial for spatial biodiversity assessments.

Conclusions:

• The new mitogenome database substantially improves the accuracy and reliability of eDNA-based species identification in Southeast Asia.
• This resource strengthens the capacity for robust surveys and monitoring programs of the region's threatened mammal biodiversity.
• Historical museum collections represent a valuable, underutilized resource for further expanding genetic reference databases.