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BOLDconnectR: An R package for streamlined retrieval, transformation, and analysis of DNA barcode data on BOLD
Sameer M Padhye1, Liliana Ballesteros-Mejia1, Josh Agda1
1Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Plos One
|August 6, 2026
Summary
A new R package, BOLDconnectR, offers programmatic access to the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) for biodiversity research. This tool streamlines data analysis and publication, enhancing species identification and integrative studies.
Area of Science:
- Biodiversity Science
- Bioinformatics
- Genomics
Background:
- DNA barcode data are crucial for biodiversity science, enabling species identification and integrative analyses.
- The Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) is a central hub for managing the full lifecycle of barcode data.
- Existing web interfaces for BOLD are optimized for interactive use, but researchers need programmatic access for reproducible analysis pipelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce BOLDconnectR, an R package designed for authenticated, programmatic access to BOLD.
- To facilitate the retrieval of BOLD records in the Barcode Core Data Model (BCDM) format.
- To enable automated data transformation and customizable workflows for biodiversity data analysis.
Main Methods:
- Development of the BOLDconnectR R package.
- Implementation of authenticated access to the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD).
- Automated transformation of BOLD records into standard R data structures.
Main Results:
- BOLDconnectR provides authenticated programmatic access to BOLD data.
- The package returns records conforming to the Barcode Core Data Model (BCDM).
- Automated transformations and customizable workflows for generating publication-ready outputs are enabled.
Conclusions:
- BOLDconnectR enhances biodiversity research by providing efficient programmatic access to BOLD.
- The R package supports reproducible curation and analysis of DNA barcode data.
- This tool facilitates integrative analyses and publication of biodiversity datasets.
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