Webinar: Macrogenetics Through DNA Barcodes

October 22, 2021

Please join the iBOL consortium for the first BIOSCAN: Illuminating Biodiversity webinar, “Macrogenetics Through DNA Barcodes,” livestreaming on Thursday, October 28th, 2021, at 1600 CET on iBOL Consortium’s YouTube channel.

Macrogenetics is an exciting and fast-growing field of research. Large quantities of COI sequences obtained from DNA barcoding research provide the raw material to study the emergence of intraspecific genetic differentiation at a continental and global scale. Building upon Dr. Dapporto’s recent results and still unpublished data, he will show the potential of macrogenetics in testing the main phylogeographic hypotheses across an entire large taxon (butterflies).

Dr. Leonardo Dapporto
Leonardo leads the Numerical and Experimental Zoology laboratory in the Department of Biology at the Università di Firenze in Italy. Leonardo has led comprehensive DNA barcoding initiatives, studying the evolution of butterfly biodiversity through time and space, including creating a complete library for Western European butterflies. Leonardo established the first phylogenetic tree for all European species and an extensive dataset of traits. He also maintains and is an author of the recluster R package, a statistical tool for the spatial analysis of biodiversity patterns.

Malaise trap deployed in Suriname as part of the Global Malaise Program

Dr. Leonardo Dapporto, head of “Zen Lab” and the representative for Italy on iBOL’s Science Committee.

A representation of European zoogegraphic regions as determined by DNA barcode-based Macrogenetics. Click for full image.

By combining large amounts of DNA barcoding data with species traits and phylogeny, he has revealed unexpected layers of insular diversity, the relationships between genetic differentiation and functional traits, the first intraspecific zoogeographic maps for Europe, and a generalization for the “southern richness and northern purity” paradigm. In his research, Leonardo has combined DNA barcoding, nuclear markers, geometric morphometrics, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with integrative taxonomy. Where discoveries are infrequent with European butterflies, Leonardo’s approach has revealed several cryptic European butterfly species, including Spialia rosae, Muschampia alta, and Zerynthia cassandra. His work has also served to clarify the distribution and phylogeography of many other groups including Polyommatus, Leptidea, Spialia, Melanargia, Lasiommata, and others.

Follow the Zen Lab on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/zenlabunifi/about/
Twitter: @ZEN_Laboratory

For more information or if you would like to present a webinar, please contact iBOL’s Communications Team at: media@iBOL.org

This webinar series is hosted by the International Barcode of Life consortium and is part of a new program with the aim of generating discussion, sharing knowledge, and building community. Subjects reflect one or more of BIOSCAN’s research themes: Species Discovery, Species Interactions, Species Dynamics. Talks could feature fascinating field research sites, novel use of DNA technologies, use or generation of biodiversity data, the intersection of research with emerging social or political issues, or the mobilization of scientific knowledge for greater societal benefit.

Media Contacts:

International Barcode of Life

Hannah James
Manager – Media and Strategic Communications
hjames@ibol.org

The International Barcode of Life (iBOL) Consortium is a research alliance with a mission to develop and apply a globally accessible, DNA-based system for the discovery and identification of all multicellular life. Our vision is to illuminate biodiversity for the benefit of our living planet.

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