engleski

DNA barcoding of insect groups in Mediterranean vineyards and olive orchards in Zadar County, Croatia

DNA barcoding is a method for species identification using molecular data. Alongside morphological data, it can be used to investigate species diversity of selected areas. Mediterranean area, including its classical agroecosystems such as olive orchards and vineyards, show high species diversity. Still, this area is insufficiently researched and especially little is known about regionally specific species. This is also true for the Mediterranean region of Croatia due to the lack of in-house taxonomic experts who could identify local fauna. We used the DNA barcoding method as a tool in the identification of insect species present in the Mediterranean olive orchards and vineyards in Zadar County, Croatia. We used it with a goal to build a local DNA barcode reference library and to use genetic data to check for the presence of regionally specific species. Several insect groups were analyzed in this research by sequencing the COI marker of mtDNA. Sequencing of more than 200 specimens resulted in successful barcodes. Specimens were grouped in Barcode Index Numbers (BINs), used as a proxy for species. 26% of BINs showed to be unique and reported for the first time in the international database Barcode of Life (BOLD), with some BINS probably specific for the area. Our data set shows that many species are endemic to the area and that more research on the biodiversity of this area is needed.

biodiversity ; DNA barcoding ; Mediterranean fauna ; olive orchard ; vineyard

nije evidentirano