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Reliable, verifiable and efficient monitoring of biodiversity via metabarcoding
Author(s) -
Ji Yinqiu,
Ashton Louise,
Pedley Scott M.,
Edwards David P.,
Tang Yong,
Nakamura Akihiro,
Kitching Roger,
Dolman Paul M.,
Woodcock Paul,
Edwards Felicity A.,
Larsen Trond H.,
Hsu Wayne W.,
Benedick Suzan,
Hamer Keith C.,
Wilcove David S.,
Bruce Catharine,
Wang Xiaoyang,
Levi Taal,
Lott Martin,
Emerson Brent C.,
Yu Douglas W.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.12162
Subject(s) - biodiversity , ecology , taxonomic rank , biology , subtropics , temperate climate , verifiable secret sharing , geography , environmental resource management , taxon , environmental science , computer science , set (abstract data type) , programming language
Abstract To manage and conserve biodiversity, one must know what is being lost, where, and why, as well as which remedies are likely to be most effective. Metabarcoding technology can characterise the species compositions of mass samples of eukaryotes or of environmental DNA . Here, we validate metabarcoding by testing it against three high‐quality standard data sets that were collected in Malaysia (tropical), China (subtropical) and the United Kingdom (temperate) and that comprised 55,813 arthropod and bird specimens identified to species level with the expenditure of 2,505 person‐hours of taxonomic expertise. The metabarcode and standard data sets exhibit statistically correlated alpha‐ and beta‐diversities, and the two data sets produce similar policy conclusions for two conservation applications: restoration ecology and systematic conservation planning. Compared with standard biodiversity data sets, metabarcoded samples are taxonomically more comprehensive, many times quicker to produce, less reliant on taxonomic expertise and auditable by third parties, which is essential for dispute resolution.