DNA barcoding for ecologists

DNA barcoding – taxon identification using a standardized DNA region – has received much attention recently, and is being further developed through an international initiative. We anticipate that DNA barcoding techniques will be increasingly used by ecologists. They will be able to not only identify...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in ecology & evolution (Amsterdam) 2009-02, Vol.24 (2), p.110-117
Main Authors: Valentini, Alice, Pompanon, François, Taberlet, Pierre
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Biodiversity
Biodiversity and Ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Biotechnology
Classification - methods
Databases, Genetic
Diet
DNA - chemistry
Ecology - trends
Ecology, environment
Ecosystems
Environmental Sciences
Food Chain
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects. Techniques
Generalities
Life Sciences
Sequence Analysis, DNA - methods
Species Specificity
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Summary:DNA barcoding – taxon identification using a standardized DNA region – has received much attention recently, and is being further developed through an international initiative. We anticipate that DNA barcoding techniques will be increasingly used by ecologists. They will be able to not only identify a single species from a specimen or an organism's remains but also determine the species composition of environmental samples. Short DNA fragments persist in the environment and might allow an assessment of local biodiversity from soil or water. Even DNA-based diet composition can be estimated using fecal samples. Here we review the new avenues offered to ecologists by DNA barcoding, particularly in the context of new sequencing technologies.
ISSN:0169-5347
1872-8383
DOI:10.1016/j.tree.2008.09.011