Abstract
Identification of insect species is often problematic because of limited morphological and/or biological characters. DNA data have been used in many phylogenetic studies to help identify and revise species boundaries (Savolainen and others 2005). For many studies, percent similarity DNA compared between species was summarized and intra- and interspecific variation patterns were observed (for example, Brower and Boyce 1991). These patterns suggested that animal species, at most, exhibit 2.0 percent difference among conspecifics (Hebert and others 2004). A group of individuals that exhibited DNA difference greater than the 2.0 percent boundary would potentially represent a new species. Thus, the difference between intra- and interspecific percent DNA variation has been used as a “genetic yardstick” to recognize new species (for example, Hung and others 1999).
Parent Publication
Keywords
DNA,
taxonomy,
phylogenetic studies,
insect species
Citation
Cognato, Anthony I. 2007. A standard DNA taxonomy for insects?. In: Bentz, Barbara; Cognato, Anthony; Raffa, Kenneth, eds. Proceedings from the Third Workshop on Genetics of Bark Beetles and Associated Microorganisms. Proc. RMRS-P-45. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 11-12