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A bright idea-metabarcoding arthropods from light fixtures.

Vasco Elbrecht1,2, Angie Lindner3, Laura Manerus2

  • 1Department of Environmental Systems Science Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics (IBP), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

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|August 16, 2021
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Summary

Light fixtures can reveal indoor arthropod diversity using DNA metabarcoding. However, individual samples from these locations may not capture the full spectrum of species present in homes.

Keywords:
Citizen scienceCommunity scienceDNA barcodingInsects

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Area of Science:

  • Urban ecology
  • Molecular ecology
  • Entomology

Background:

  • Humans share indoor environments with numerous arthropod species, yet their diversity remains understudied.
  • Understanding indoor arthropod communities is crucial for appreciating human-wildlife interactions within built environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the utility of collecting dead arthropod specimens from light fixtures for DNA metabarcoding.
  • To assess the factors influencing arthropod diversity in residential indoor environments.

Main Methods:

  • Arthropod specimens were collected from light fixtures in a research facility (Centre for Biodiversity Genomics) and 12 residential homes.
  • DNA metabarcoding techniques were employed to identify arthropod Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs).
  • Factors such as light fixture type, bulb, cleaning history, and specimen size were analyzed for their influence on community composition.

Main Results:

  • The highest arthropod diversity was observed on the ground floor of the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, particularly in continuously illuminated light fixtures.
  • Community scientist samples showed significant variation based on light fixture characteristics and specimen size.
  • A low degree of shared OTUs was found even between samples within the same building, indicating high local diversity.

Conclusions:

  • Light fixtures serve as a valuable, albeit localized, resource for assessing indoor arthropod diversity.
  • Individual light fixture samples are unlikely to represent the complete arthropod community within a home.
  • Further research can refine light fixture sampling for comprehensive indoor biodiversity assessments.