Biodiversity Data Journal :
Data Paper (Biosciences)
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Corresponding author: Vanessa A. Mata (vanessamata@hotmail.com)
Academic editor: Ricardo Moratelli
Received: 19 May 2020 | Accepted: 29 Jun 2020 | Published: 28 Jul 2020
© 2020 Hugo Rebelo, Sónia Ferreira, Francisco Amorim, Pedro Horta, Helena Raposeira, Helena Santos, Pedro Beja, Vanessa Mata
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Rebelo H, Ferreira S, Amorim F, Horta P, Raposeira H, Santos H, Beja P, Mata VA (2020) Hidden in our pockets: building of a DNA barcode library unveils the first record of Myotis alcathoe for Portugal. Biodiversity Data Journal 8: e54479. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.8.e54479
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The advent and boom of DNA barcoding technologies have provided a powerful tool for the fields of ecology and systematics. Here, we present the InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: Portuguese Bats (Chiroptera) dataset containing DNA sequences of 63 specimens representing the 25 bat species currently known for continental Portugal. For that, we sequenced tissues samples obtained in a vast array of projects spanning the last two decades.
We added four new Barcoding Index Numbers (BINs) to existing Chiroptera barcodes on BOLD, two belonging to Myotis escalerai, one to Plecotus auritus and the other to Rhinolophus hipposideros. Surprisingly, one of the samples initially identified in the field as Myotis mystacinus turned out to be Myotis alcathoe, which represents the first record of this species for Portugal. The presence of Nyctalus noctula in Portugal was also genetically confirmed for the first time. This case study shows the power and value of DNA barcoding initiatives to unravel new data that may be hidden on biological collections.
DNA barcoding, bats, Myotis alcathoe, museum collections, species identification, COI
The barcoding of life is a booming initiative to catalogue worldwide biodiversity (
In Portugal, the InBIO Barcoding Initiative was recently launched under the scope of EnvMetaGen ERA-Chair, aiming to contribute for building a DNA barcoding library for the country’s biodiversity of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems (
This dataset aims to provide a first contribution to an authoritative DNA barcode sequences library for Portuguese bats. Such a library should facilitate DNA-based identification of species for both traditional molecular studies and DNA-metabarcoding studies and constitute a valuable resource for taxonomic and ecological studies.
We obtained the full barcode sequence (COI – 658 bp) for 63 specimens (Fig.
List of species that were collected and DNA barcoded within this project. * Indicate species with new BINs.
Family |
Species |
IBI code |
BOLD code |
BOLD BIN |
GenBank |
Miniopteridae |
Miniopterus schreibersii |
MB12 |
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MB13 |
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MB14 |
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Molossidae |
Tadarida teniotis |
MB60 |
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Rhinolophidae |
Rhinolophus euryale |
MB56 |
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Rhinolophidae |
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum |
MB57 |
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Rhinolophidae |
Rhinolophus hipposideros* |
MB58 |
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MB59 |
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Rhinolophidae |
Rhinolophus mehelyi |
MB64 |
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MB65 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Barbastella barbastellus |
MB01 |
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MB02 |
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MB03 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Eptesicus isabellinus |
MB06 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Eptesicus serotinus |
MB04 |
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MB05 |
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MB07 |
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MB08 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Hypsugo savii |
MB09 |
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MB10 |
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MB11 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Myotis alcathoe |
MB33 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Myotis bechsteinii |
MB15 |
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MB16 |
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MB17 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Myotis blythii |
MB18 |
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MB19 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Myotis daubentonii |
MB20 |
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MB21 |
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MB22 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Myotis emarginatus |
MB23 |
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MB25 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Myotis escalerai* |
MB24 |
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MB26 |
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MB27 |
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MB28 |
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MB29 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Myotis myotis |
MB30 |
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MB31 |
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MB32 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Myotis mystacinus |
MB61 |
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MB62 |
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MB63 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Nyctalus lasiopterus |
MB35 |
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MB36 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Nyctalus leisleri |
MB37 |
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MB38 |
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MB39 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Nyctalus noctula |
MB40 |
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MB41 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Pipistrellus kuhlii |
MB43 |
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MB44 |
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MB45 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Pipistrellus pipistrellus |
MB46 |
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MB47 |
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MB48 |
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MB51 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Pipistrellus pygmaeus |
MB49 |
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MB50 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Plecotus auritus* |
MB52 |
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Vespertilionidae |
Plecotus austriacus |
MB53 |
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MB54 |
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MB55 |
Phylogenetic tree obtained by Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis of 26 species of bats, based on 63 newly-sequenced cytochrome c oxidase I gene (COI – 658 bp) Portuguese samples (codes started by MB) and representative sequences of all 26 species publicly available on BOLD (http://www.boldsystems.org), bootstrap values (> 80%) are indicated at nodes.
This work provides a clear example on how the DNA barcoding of collections may unveil unexpected results and reveal hidden diversity. In this case, a sample collected in 2005 and sequenced in 2018 provided the first record of Myotis alcathoe for Portugal. This individual was identified in the field as M. mystacinus that is a cryptic species of M. alcathoe, thus demonstrating the difficulty in distinguishing these species, based on external morphological characters alone. In fact, it was only through molecular studies that M. alcathoe was first identified as a separate species (
M. alcathoe is associated with dense riparian environments and was known to occur from northern Spain to Sweden and Turkey. Its known distribution is highly scattered and most likely full of knowledge gaps, mainly due to under-sampling of the habitats of this bat species and misidentifications during fieldwork (
Our take-home message is that the screening of current and older collections, either museum or private, may withhold surprises that will further complete acknowledged species lists. With the ever-decreasing costs of barcoding techniques, it is expected that many researchers may afford this approach. Barcoding will most likely become an essential tool for the managing of collections. Additionally, vouchering of specimens, especially from regions with large knowledge gaps like tropical Africa and Southeast Asia, might help future studies aiming for pathogen discovery, integrative taxonomy, climate change, environmental pollution and other topics that might not constitute the initial focus of the sampling.
The name “The InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: Portuguese Bats (Chiroptera)” refers to the data release of DNA barcodes and distribution data of bats within the InBIO Barcoding Initiative.
Pedro Beja (project coordinator), Sónia Ferreira (IBI manager), Hugo Rebelo (Chiroptera specialist), Francisco Amorim (Chiroptera specialist), Pedro Horta (Chiroptera specialist), Helena Raposeira (Chiroptera specialist), Helena Santos (Chiroptera specialist), Vanessa Mata (Chiroptera specialist).
Continental Portugal (Fig.
Chiropteran specimens were collected in the field, morphologically identified and DNA barcoded.
FCT - Fundação para Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P. funded V.M. (PD/BD/113462/2015) and F.A. (PD/BD/52606/2014). S.F. was funded by the project PORBIOTA - Portuguese E-Infrastructure for Information and Research on Biodiversity (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022127), supported by Operational Thematic Program for Competitiveness and Internationalization (POCI), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). This research also received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 668981. Fieldwork and sample collection were funded under the scope of the FCT projects PTDC/BIA-BIC/110587/2009, LTER/BIA-BEC/0004/2009 and PTDC/BIA-ECO/31731/2017 and from EDP – Energias de Portugal.
Continental Portugal (Fig.
Bat samples were collected under the scope of several projects spanning from 2005 to 2018 (
Up to five specimens of each species were sequenced in the laboratory. DNA was extracted from wing punches, using the E.Z.N.A. Tissue Kit (Omega Bio-tek). Two partially overlapping fragments of the COI gene were amplified using the primers FwhF1 x Ind_C_R (325bp;
All DNA barcodes sequences were compared against the BOLD database and the 99 top hits were inspected in order to detect possible issues due to contaminations or misidentifications. Prior to GBIF submission, data were checked for errors and inconsistencies with OpenRefine 3.2 (http://openrefine.org).
Samples were collected from bats captured using mist-nets or harp-traps at roost exits and identified morphologically by experts. A non-lethal 3 mm wing punch was collected from each individual and stored in 96% ethanol from where DNA was extracted and the COI DNA barcode fragment was sequenced. Prior to GBIF submission, data were checked for errors and inconsistencies with OpenRefine 3.2 (http://openrefine.org).
Continental Portugal (Fig.
37.4° and 41.9° Latitude; 9.3° and 6.9° Longitude.
This dataset is composed entirely of data relating to 63 Chiroptera records.
Overall, 26 species are represented in the dataset (100% of the ones existing in continental Portugal and 83.8% of the ones existing in Iberia). These species belong to four families, the majority of which belong to the Vespertilionidae (20 species or 76.9%), with additional representatives from Rhinolophidae (four species) and a single species in the Miniopteridae and Molossidae. Vespertilionidae also accounts for over eighty percent (84.1%) of all collected samples, Rhinolophidae (9.5%), Miniopteridae (4.8%) and a single sample was collected from the Molossidae family.
Rank | Scientific Name | Common Name |
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species | Barbastella barbastellus | Western barbastelle |
species | Eptesicus isabellinus | Meridional serotine |
species | Eptesicus serotinus | Common serotine |
species | Hypsugo savii | Savi's pipistrelle |
species | Miniopterus schreibersii | Common bent-wing |
species | Myotis alcathoe | Alcathoe |
species | Myotis bechsteinii | Bechstein's |
species | Myotis blythii | Lesser mouse-eared |
species | Myotis daubentonii | Daubenton's |
species | Myotis emarginatus | Geoffroy's |
species | Myotis escalerai | Escalera's |
species | Myotis myotis | Greater mouse-eared |
species | Myotis mystacinus | Whiskered |
species | Nyctalus lasiopterus | Greater noctule |
species | Nyctalus leisleri | Lesser noctule |
species | Nyctalus noctula | Common noctule |
species | Pipistrellus kuhlii | Kuhl's pipistrelle |
species | Pipistrellus pipistrellus | Common pipistrelle |
species | Pipistrellus pygmaeus | Soprano pipistrelle |
species | Plecotus auritus | Brown long-eared |
species | Plecotus austriacus | Grey long-eared |
species | Rhinolophus euryale | Mediterranean horseshoe |
species | Rhinolophus ferrumequinum | Greater horseshoe |
species | Rhinolophus hipposideros | Lesser horseshoe |
species | Rhinolophus mehelyi | Mehely's horseshoe |
species | Tadarida teniotis | European free-tailed |
Samples were collected in the period from 27 June 2005 to 22 August 2018.
The InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: Portuguese Bats (Chiroptera) dataset can be downloaded from the Public Data Portal of BOLD (http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Public_SearchTerms?query=DS-IBICH) in different formats (data as dwc, xml or tsv and sequences as fasta files). Alternatively, BOLD users can log-in and access the dataset via the Workbench platform of BOLD. All records are also searchable within BOLD, using the search function of the database.The dataset, at the time of writing the manuscript, is included as Suppl. materials
All data are available in the BioStudies database (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies) under accession number S-BSST395.
Column label | Column description |
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processid | Unique identifier for the sample |
sampleid | Identifier for the sample being sequenced, i.e. IBI catalogue number at Cibio-InBIO, Porto University. Often identical to the "Field ID" or "Museum ID" |
recordID | Identifier for specimen assigned in the field |
catalognum | Catalogue number |
fieldnum | Field number |
institution_storing | The full name of the institution that has physical possession of the voucher specimen |
bin_uri | Barcode Index Number system identifier |
phylum_taxID | Phylum taxonomic numeric code |
phylum_name | Phylum name |
class_taxID | Class taxonomic numeric code |
class_name | Class name |
order_taxID | Order taxonomic numeric code |
order_name | Order name |
family_taxID | Family taxonomic numeric code |
family_name | Family name |
subfamily_taxID | Subfamily taxonomic numeric code |
subfamily_name | Subfamily name |
genus_taxID | Genus taxonomic numeric code |
genus_name | Genus name |
species_taxID | Species taxonomic numeric code |
species_name | Species name |
identification_provided_by | Full name of primary individual who assigned the specimen to a taxonomic group |
identification_method | The method used to identify the specimen |
voucher_status | Status of the specimen in an accessioning process (BOLD controlled vocabulary) |
tissue_type | A brief description of the type of tissue or material analysed |
collectors | The full or abbreviated names of the individuals or team responsible for collecting the sample in the field |
lifestage | The age class or life stage of the specimen at the time of sampling |
lat | The geographical latitude (in decimal degrees) of the geographic centre of a location |
lon | The geographical longitude (in decimal degrees) of the geographic centre of a location |
country | The full, unabbreviated name of the country where the organism was collected |
province_state | The full, unabbreviated name of the province ("Distrito" in Portugal) where the organism was collected |
region | The full, unabbreviated name of the municipality ("Concelho" in Portugal) where the organism was collected |
exactsite | Additional name/text description regarding the exact location of the collection site relative to a geographic relevant landmark |
We would like to thank our lab technicians Cátia Chaves and Joana Pinto for the lab processing of the samples, as well as Pedro Sousa for the upload of the GBIF data.
Samples were collected by H.R., F.A., P.H., H.R., H.S. and V.A.M. Data analysis was conducted by S.F. Writing of the manuscript was led by H.R., S.F. and V.A.M. with substantial contributions from the remaining authors.
The file includes information about all records in BOLD for the IBI-Chiroptera library. It contains collecting and identification data. The data are as downloaded from BOLD, without further processing.
The file includes information about all records in BOLD for the IBI-Chiroptera library. It contains collecting and identification data. The data are downloaded from GBIF, without further processing.
COI sequences in fasta format. Each sequence is identified by the BOLD ProcessID, species name, marker and GenBank accession number, separated by pipe. The data are as downloaded from BOLD.