A Test of DNA Barcoding (a.k.a. DNA Taxonomy) and the Evolution of a Continental Fauna

这项研究是首次尝试评估基于DNA的分类方法，结合了大规模测序、专业的形态分类学知识和地理环境，其中包括多个谱系的大多数物种，这与早期研究仅处理亲缘关系较远的物种不同。其结果将允许批判性地评估最近提出的批评意见。分类学据说处于危机之中（Gaston & May，1992; Godfray，2002）。许多补救措施已被提出，以加快分类描述和知识传播的速度。Tautz等人（2003年）提倡一种基于DNA的方法，其中一个或几个基因区域作为普遍可访问的物种识别工具，Hebert等人（2003年a，B）提出了一种单基因条形码方法，其中细胞色素c氧化酶I基因的部分作为所有动物生命的识别系统。条形码是目前最广泛宣传的方法。初步研究表明DNA条形码化表现良好（例如Hebert et al.，2003 b; Hebert等人，2004; Hogg & Hebert，2004）。另一方面，发表了对这些方法的一般性批评，不幸的是，有时是出于政治动机（例如，Lipscomb等人，2003; Will & Rubinoff，2004）而不是提供严格的测试。我们的目标是序列和形态分类的澳大利亚潜水甲虫动物群，包括几个地方性的辐射，评估不同的聚类方法来描绘组的单倍型，可以理想地代表物种。在这项研究的最后，我们希望有一个清晰的图像，什么序列数据可以和不能做，以帮助分类。

This study is the first attempt to evaluate DNA based approaches to taxonomy combining larger-scale sequencing, expert morphological-taxonomic knowledge and a geographical setting, which includes most species of several lineages ¿ unlike earlier studies which treated more distantly related species only. Its outcomes will allow to critically evaluate the points of criticism raised recently. Taxonomy was said to be in crisis (Gaston & May, 1992; Godfray, 2002). Many remedies have been proposed to accelerate the rate of taxonomic description and dissemination of knowledge. Tautz et al. (2003) advocated a DNA-based approach where one or several gene regions serve as universally accessible identification tool for species, Hebert et al. (2003a, b) proposed a single-gene ¿barcode¿ approach where parts of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene serve as an identification system for all animal life. Barcoding currently is the most widely advertised approach. Preliminary studies suggested that DNA barcoding performs well (e.g. Hebert et al., 2003b; Hebert et al., 2004; Hogg & Hebert, 2004). On the other hand, general criticism of the methods was published, sometimes unfortunately politically motivated (e.g. Lipscomb et al., 2003; Will & Rubinoff, 2004) rather than providing a rigorous test. We aim to sequence and morphologically classify the Australian diving beetle fauna comprising several endemic radiations, evaluating different clustering methods to delineate groups of haplotypes which could ideally represent species. At the end of this study we expect a clear picture of what sequence data can and can not do to aid taxonomy.