A reference library for Canadian invertebrates with 1.5 million barcodes, voucher specimens, and DNA samples

Area of Science:

• Biodiversity Science
• Genomics
• Taxonomy

Background:

• Accurate species identification relies on comprehensive DNA reference libraries, yet public repositories are severely lacking, with only ~15% of described animal species represented.
• This data gap hinders reliable taxonomic identification and biodiversity assessments globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the deficiency in public DNA sequence data by generating a large-scale DNA barcode library for Canadian animal biodiversity.
• To enhance the capacity for taxonomic identification and support biodiversity research through a publicly accessible dataset.

Main Methods:

• DNA barcoding was performed on 1,500,003 animal specimens from diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecozones across Canada.
• Specimens spanned 14 phyla, 43 classes, 163 orders, 1123 families, and 6186 genera, with 64,264 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) identified.
• Voucher specimens and DNA extracts were archived, and data was submitted to major biodiversity informatics platforms.

Main Results:

• The dataset includes DNA barcodes for over 1.5 million specimens, representing a substantial increase in public sequence data.
• Species-level identification was achieved for 38% of specimens, with genus and family-level assignments for 69.5% and 99.9%, respectively.
• The data encompasses a wide taxonomic breadth, providing valuable references for numerous animal groups.

Conclusions:

• This extensive DNA barcode dataset significantly enhances the reference library for taxonomic identification in Canada and globally.
• The archived specimens and accessible data facilitate future research in taxonomy, ecology, and conservation.
• The project demonstrates a powerful approach to rapidly expanding biodiversity data through large-scale DNA barcoding initiatives.