Izwan-Anas, Noor and Low, Van Lun and Ya'cob, Zubaidah and Lourdes, Emmanuel Y. and Halim, Mohamad Rasul Abdullah and Sofian-Azirun, Mohd and Takaoka, Hiroyuki and Adler, Peter H. (2023) DNA barcodes and species boundaries of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Malaysia. Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny, 81. pp. 931-943. ISSN 1863-7221, DOI https://doi.org/10.3897/ASP.81.E104426.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Black flies play a prominent role in public health and the epidemiology of parasitic diseases of humans, domesticated and wild animals. Correct identification and a comprehensive survey are required to identify vector and pest species and thus understand their biological attributes which play a vital role in the monitoring program. DNA barcoding is an established molecular tool that provides rapid and accurate species identification. Our study strengthens the molecular database for black flies in Malaysia by adding 59 cytochrome c oxidase I sequences for 22 species, of which 14 are included for the first time. These sequences, combined with those in public databases, represent a total of 338 sequences for 52 Malaysian species, nearly 50% of which were collected from type localities. At the subgeneric level, barcode gap analysis most accurately identified species in the subgenus Nevermannia (92%), followed by Simulium s. l. (91%), and Gomphostilbia (81%). The remaining sequences were ambiguous and could not be distinguished from those of nearest neighbour species due to an overlap in genetic divergence and low genetic diversity, especially between insular species. Tree analyses indicate that certain species had incomplete lineage sorting and low mitochondrial signals. Possible cryptic species were indicated in the Simulium (Gomphostilbia) batoense and S. (G.) epistum species groups. Species delimitations were consistent with morphological identifications except in large species groups such as the S. (G.) asakoae, S. (G.) batoense, S. (G.) epistum, and S. (Simulium) melanopus groups. The use of type specimens or specimens collected from type localities (topotypes) in barcoding is strongly recommended for reference sequences to increase the reliability of the molecular database.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Funders: | Clemson University Experiment Station, Malaysia Ministry of Higher Education for Higher Institution Centre of Excellence [Grant no. MO002-2019], U.S. Department of Agriculture [Grant no. 7151, SC-1700596], National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Universiti Malaya [Grant no. FP024-2019A, FRGS/1/2019/STG03/ UM/02/15], Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan [Grant no. BIFA6_017] |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Cryptic species; Cytochrome c oxidase I; Gomphostilbia; Simulium; Vector |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science > Institute of Biological Sciences Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Office > Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Nov 2025 06:55 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Nov 2025 06:55 |
| URI: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/48572 |
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