Open AccessComprehensive DNA barcode coverage of North American birds
Author(s) -
KERR KEVIN C. R.,
STOECKLE MARK Y.,
DOVE CARLA J.,
WEIGT LEE A.,
FRANCIS CHARLES M.,
HEBERT PAUL D. N.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
molecular ecology notes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1471-8286
pISSN - 1471-8278
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-8286.2007.01670.x
Subject(s) - dna barcoding , barcode , intraspecific competition , biology , species complex , mitochondrial dna , evolutionary biology , pelagic zone , zoology , population , ecology , taxonomic rank , genetics , taxon , phylogenetic tree , demography , sociology , computer science , gene , operating system
DNA barcoding seeks to assemble a standardized reference library for DNA‐based identification of eukaryotic species. The utility and limitations of this approach need to be tested on well‐characterized taxonomic assemblages. Here we provide a comprehensive DNA barcode analysis for North American birds including 643 species representing 93% of the breeding and pelagic avifauna of the USA and Canada. Most (94%) species possess distinct barcode clusters, with average neighbour‐joining bootstrap support of 98%. In the remaining 6%, barcode clusters correspond to small sets of closely related species, most of which hybridize regularly. Fifteen (2%) currently recognized species are comprised of two distinct barcode clusters, many of which may represent cryptic species. Intraspecific variation is weakly related to census population size and species age. This study confirms that DNA barcoding can be effectively applied across the geographical and taxonomic expanse of North American birds. The consistent finding of constrained intraspecific mitochondrial variation in this large assemblage of species supports the emerging view that selective sweeps limit mitochondrial diversity.