Establishing community-wide DNA barcode references for conserving mangrove forests in China
Abstract Background Mangrove ecosystems have been the focus of global attention for their crucial role in sheltering coastal communities and retarding global climate change by sequestering ‘blue carbon’. China is relatively rich in mangrove diversity, with one-third of the ca. 70 true mangrove speci...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Plant Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-021-03349-z |
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| author | Xiaomeng Mao Wei Xie Xinnian Li Suhua Shi Zixiao Guo |
| author_facet | Xiaomeng Mao Wei Xie Xinnian Li Suhua Shi Zixiao Guo |
| author_sort | Xiaomeng Mao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Mangrove ecosystems have been the focus of global attention for their crucial role in sheltering coastal communities and retarding global climate change by sequestering ‘blue carbon’. China is relatively rich in mangrove diversity, with one-third of the ca. 70 true mangrove species and a number of mangrove associate species occurring naturally along the country’s coasts. Mangrove ecosystems, however, are widely threatened by intensifying human disturbances and rising sea levels. DNA barcoding technology may help protect mangrove ecosystems by providing rapid species identification. Results To investigate this potential, 898 plant specimens were collected from 33 major mangrove sites in China. Based on the morphologic diagnosis, the specimens were assigned to 72 species, including all 28 true mangrove species and all 12 mangrove associate species recorded in China. Three chloroplast DNA markers rbcL, trnH-psbA, matK, and one nuclear marker ITS2 were chosen to investigate the utility of using barcoding to identify these species. According to the criteria of barcoding gaps in genetic distance, sequence similarity, and phylogenetic monophyly, we propose that a single marker, ITS2, is sufficient to barcode the species of mangroves and their associates in China. Furthermore, rbcL or trnH-psbA can also be used to gather supplement confirming data. In using these barcodes, we revealed a very low level of genetic variation among geographic locations in the mangrove species, which is an alert to their vulnerability to climate and anthropogenic disturbances. Conclusion We suggest using ITS2 to barcode mangrove species and terrestrial coastal plants in South China. The DNA barcode sequences we obtained would be valuable in monitoring biodiversity and the restoration of ecosystems, which are essential for mangrove conservation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T04:11:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6db654341dd045758ff64133d0ee2076 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T04:11:22Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6db654341dd045758ff64133d0ee20762022-12-21T18:00:30ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292021-12-0121111410.1186/s12870-021-03349-zEstablishing community-wide DNA barcode references for conserving mangrove forests in ChinaXiaomeng Mao0Wei Xie1Xinnian Li2Suhua Shi3Zixiao Guo4State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Lab of Plant Resources, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityState Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Lab of Plant Resources, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityState Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Lab of Plant Resources, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityState Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Lab of Plant Resources, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityState Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Lab of Plant Resources, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityAbstract Background Mangrove ecosystems have been the focus of global attention for their crucial role in sheltering coastal communities and retarding global climate change by sequestering ‘blue carbon’. China is relatively rich in mangrove diversity, with one-third of the ca. 70 true mangrove species and a number of mangrove associate species occurring naturally along the country’s coasts. Mangrove ecosystems, however, are widely threatened by intensifying human disturbances and rising sea levels. DNA barcoding technology may help protect mangrove ecosystems by providing rapid species identification. Results To investigate this potential, 898 plant specimens were collected from 33 major mangrove sites in China. Based on the morphologic diagnosis, the specimens were assigned to 72 species, including all 28 true mangrove species and all 12 mangrove associate species recorded in China. Three chloroplast DNA markers rbcL, trnH-psbA, matK, and one nuclear marker ITS2 were chosen to investigate the utility of using barcoding to identify these species. According to the criteria of barcoding gaps in genetic distance, sequence similarity, and phylogenetic monophyly, we propose that a single marker, ITS2, is sufficient to barcode the species of mangroves and their associates in China. Furthermore, rbcL or trnH-psbA can also be used to gather supplement confirming data. In using these barcodes, we revealed a very low level of genetic variation among geographic locations in the mangrove species, which is an alert to their vulnerability to climate and anthropogenic disturbances. Conclusion We suggest using ITS2 to barcode mangrove species and terrestrial coastal plants in South China. The DNA barcode sequences we obtained would be valuable in monitoring biodiversity and the restoration of ecosystems, which are essential for mangrove conservation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-021-03349-zMangrovesDNA barcodingGenetic diversityITS2rbcLtrnH-psbA |
| spellingShingle | Xiaomeng Mao Wei Xie Xinnian Li Suhua Shi Zixiao Guo Establishing community-wide DNA barcode references for conserving mangrove forests in China BMC Plant Biology Mangroves DNA barcoding Genetic diversity ITS2 rbcL trnH-psbA |
| title | Establishing community-wide DNA barcode references for conserving mangrove forests in China |
| title_full | Establishing community-wide DNA barcode references for conserving mangrove forests in China |
| title_fullStr | Establishing community-wide DNA barcode references for conserving mangrove forests in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Establishing community-wide DNA barcode references for conserving mangrove forests in China |
| title_short | Establishing community-wide DNA barcode references for conserving mangrove forests in China |
| title_sort | establishing community wide dna barcode references for conserving mangrove forests in china |
| topic | Mangroves DNA barcoding Genetic diversity ITS2 rbcL trnH-psbA |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-021-03349-z |
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