Characterizing a species-rich and understudied tropical insect fauna using DNA barcoding.

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Biodiversity research
• Conservation science

Background:

• West Africa possesses rich, understudied arthropod biodiversity.
• Arthropod diversity studies are crucial for conservation, ecosystem services, and pest control.
• Ghana's arthropod fauna remains largely undocumented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate arthropod assemblage composition and temporal activity patterns in Ghana.
• To assess the state of regional biodiversity sampling.
• To contribute to understanding West African biodiversity.

Main Methods:

• Intensive arthropod sampling using Malaise, yellow pan, pitfall, Heath, and CDC traps.
• DNA barcoding of 95,996 individuals.
• Classification of sequences using Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) as a species proxy.

Main Results:

• 10,120 unique BINs were identified, indicating high species richness.
• Species accumulation curves did not asymptote, suggesting significant undiscovered biodiversity.
• Different trap types captured distinct arthropod subsets, with diurnal activity being more pronounced.

Conclusions:

• The study more than doubles the number of published BINs for West Africa.
• Multiple trapping methods provided a comprehensive assessment of the arthropod assemblage.
• Public data release will foster further research in regional taxonomy and ecology.