2020 Arthropod Sampling Research Update

2020 Arthropod Sampling Research Update

October 16, 2020
The authors provide an update on the results of arthropod collections and DNA barcoding on MPG Ranch in 2019.

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We study arthropods to document occurrence of specific taxa (e.g. moths), inventory diversity, and better understand the natural history of winged insectivores.

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Since 2017 we have been building a reference database of DNA from local arthropods to document biodiversity and strengthen the results of our study investigating the diet of nocturnal insectivores.

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We used one flight-intercept trap, three pitfall traps, one 18-inch yellow pan, and one 5-inch blue bowl to capture arthropods at each location.

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We sent samples to the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, for analysis.

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We collected 632 samples containing 84,813 specimens. We did not attempt to sequence DNA from every specimen and excluded 21,776 excess taxa.

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The identifications significantly expand the documented biodiversity on MPG Ranch.

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One of the criticisms of DNA barcoding studies is a lack of taxonomic coverage of certain animal groups in reference databases, particularly arthropods.

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We saw a wide range of Barcode Index Number diversity across the landscape, from a low of 382 unique sequences at the Top House to 1,245 near the small pond in Whaley Draw

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We saw high arthropod diversity at sites with water and a high diversity of plant life, like this site near Tongue Creek pond.

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We will continue to summarize the data over the next few months

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Acknowledgments


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