LUSOAQUABARCODE

Implementing DNA barcoding into aquatic biodiversity research in Portugal and priming new macrobenthos monitoring tools

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'DNA barcoding - a research approach that aims to simplify species identifications and accelerate the inventory of the world’s biodiversity - is being gradually implemented worldwide, but only recently a specific framework started to be organized at the European level. Luso-AquaBarcode aims to implement DNA barcoding into aquatic biodiversity research in Portugal, thereby standing at the forefront of the activation of this approach in Europe, and acting as a model project at the European level. Given its large, diverse and rich EEZ, Portugal is an ideal country within Europe to implement this project. With the introduction of the EC’s Water Framework Directive, there will be greater demand for tools to expedite macrobenthos monitoring. This proposal also aims to prime the development of DNA barcoding-based tools for species identification in marine and freshwater macrobenthic communities. This proposal constitutes an objective capitalization of the research and management skills acquired by the fellow during his mobility programme at Bangor University, UK. Upon initiation of this project the fellow will have completed 5 years of Post-Doctoral activity, and therefore it is in an appropriate timing to start up a career as an independent academic. The fellow will be hosted by the Department of Biology at the University of Minho, Portugal, where he will be assigned to a starting academic position, and will be granted opportunity to lead his research group within the Centre for Molecular and Environmental Biology. Luso-Aquabarcode will provide the fellow with a significant head start for a swift integration in the institution and work environment while enabling him to expand current research endeavours. This will greatly contribute for the development of the fellow’s appointment into a permanent academic position. Hence, this proposal will be key for the development of a coherent professional project and to improve the fellows’ long-term career prospects.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Researchers have established DNA reference libraries for various marine and freshwater organisms in Portugal.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

DNA barcoding is used to identify living species, and can thus be used as an environmental monitoring tool or to expand biodiversity inventories. The EU-funded LUSOAQUABARCODE project implemented DNA barcoding for marine and freshwater macrobenthic communities (certain small marine species, including sponges and crustaceans) in Portugal.

The project drew on expertise from several local universities, research institutes, Lisbon's National Museum of Natural History and other international partners to create the libraries. Over 300 marine invertebrates and more than 150 fish species, including most exploited species, have been recorded.

Other data such as coordinates and images of the specimens form part of the library entries, available online in the http://www.boldsystems.org/ (Barcode of Life Data Systems).

As part of the cataloguing process, researchers improved on some of the technical aspects of DNA barcoding. They also introduced a ranking system that provides an empirical way to judge the reliability of species identification when using the reference DNA barcodes.

The new libraries will be useful for identifying fish and shellfish in markets and fisheries. They will also enable environmental monitoring in estuarine macrobenthic communities, in line with the EU Water Framework Directive.