A taxonomically reliable DNA barcode reference library for North Sea macrobenthos

Area of Science:

• Marine biology
• Ecosystem health assessment
• Molecular ecology

Background:

• EU directives and OSPAR guidelines necessitate cross-border marine resource management.
• Benthic organisms are key indicators of marine ecosystem health.
• Morphological identification of benthic species is labor-intensive and expensive, hindering efficient monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop efficient DNA-based tools for benthic biomonitoring in the North Sea region.
• To create a high-quality DNA reference library for North Sea macrobenthos.
• To support genetic tools for ecosystem health assessment.

Main Methods:

• The GEANS project compiled a DNA reference library using new, non-public, and public (GenBank, BOLD) COI barcode sequences.
• A curated library was established with photographs and metadata for 4005 specimens across 715 species.
• Sequence data was sourced from GenBank and BOLD, alongside newly generated sequences.

Main Results:

• A DNA reference library for North Sea macrobenthos was created, covering over 29% of known species.
• The library contains 4005 specimens from 715 species, with Arthropoda being the most represented phylum.
• Bryozoa and Annelida showed the lowest species coverage in the developed library.

Conclusions:

• The GEANS DNA reference library provides a foundation for rapid and cost-effective biomonitoring.
• This resource will aid public authorities and academics in assessing North Sea environmental health.
• DNA-based monitoring offers a scalable alternative to traditional morphological identification methods.