Incorporating Neglected Insect Larvae in Species Inventories: DNA Barcoding as an Effective Tool for All-Stage...

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Molecular Biology
• Forest Science

Background:

• Invertebrates, particularly insects, are vital for forest biodiversity and ecosystem functions like decomposition.
• Global changes threaten insect diversity, necessitating robust long-term biomonitoring strategies.
• Tree-related microhabitats (TReMs), such as tree holes, harbor significant but often overlooked biodiversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess invertebrate biodiversity in French forest tree holes using DNA barcoding.
• To overcome limitations of traditional morphological identification for larval stages.
• To integrate hidden invertebrate diversity into long-term monitoring programs.

Main Methods:

• DNA barcoding was employed to identify invertebrate species from tree hole samples.
• Morphological identification challenges, especially for larvae, were addressed.
• Data were analyzed to determine species identification rates and the proportion of larval discoveries.

Main Results:

• DNA barcoding successfully identified nearly 62% of sampled invertebrates to the species level.
• Of the sampled invertebrates, 44% were larvae, with nearly 50% of these identified to species.
• The study identified 108 species and 173 barcode index numbers (BINs), with 39% of species exclusively found as larvae.

Conclusions:

• DNA-based identification is highly effective for surveying invertebrate biodiversity in microhabitats like tree holes.
• Including larval stages in biodiversity assessments is essential for accurate species abundance and functional diversity insights.
• Continued development of DNA reference libraries and non-destructive methods is crucial for precise biomonitoring.