Open AccessApplications and limitations of DNA barcoding in Environmental Biology
Author(s) -
Eric M. Hallerman
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of environmental biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.247
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 2394-0379
pISSN - 0254-8704
DOI - 10.22438/jeb/42/1/mrn-1710
Subject(s) - dna barcoding , identification (biology) , biology , environmental dna , taxon , ecology , population , molecular ecology , limiting , evolutionary biology , biodiversity , mechanical engineering , demography , sociology , engineering
Species identification is often difficult, especially for early life-history stages, poorly known species within diverse taxa, and microbes. Molecular genetics has contributed the technique of DNA barcoding, offering a low-tech, potentially high-impact tool for identification of species. After briefly describing a range of applications, this review focus on its use for identification of larval fishes. Molecular identification of larval fishes would increase knowledge of larval fish ecology, providing insights into reproductive ecology and population dynamics, and contribute to identification and protection of critical habitat. Other applications of environmental interest include identification of species from fecal starting material and forensic investigation. Limiting application of DNA barcoding is the environmental community's unfamiliarity withthe technique and limited development of DNA sequence archives for some taxa.