New subspecies of an Arctic moth from SW Yukon: evolutionary and ecological novelty

Since it was proposed in 2003, DNA barcoding has seen a
dramatic rise as the standard molecular-based method for specimen
identification formulticellular life. However, debate continues regarding
the best conceptual and analytical approaches for identifying unknown
specimens to the species level as well as for discovering new species. In
particular, criticisms have been aimed at the frequent lack of statistical
tests of explicit species hypotheses in the DNA barcoding literature, despite diverse discussions of species boundaries. Meanwhile, large DNA
barcoding campaigns are generating continental-scale datasets of standardized DNA sequences for focal taxonomic groups that are nearly
comprehensive at the species level, which can be used to address
fundamental questions about the properties and origins of species.
Results: In this opinion piece, I will first briefly review the history of
application of species concepts in DNA barcoding studies. A gradual shift
from morphological concepts towards concordance and evolutionary
species concepts is apparent but not universal. Second, I will outline a
research program in which large-scale barcode datasets are applied, together with other data types, to address elemental questions about the
properties and evolutionary origins of species entities. For example, comparative barcode data from sexual versus asexual taxa can help us to
understand the strength of the role of reproductive isolation in the formation of discrete biological entities. Significance: Critical examination
of barcode data will provide new insights into the nature of species.
Furthermore, improved knowledge of the evolutionary history of species
will contribute to selecting and operationalizing species concepts, which
is of substantial practical importance for choosing appropriate analysis
methods for specimen identification, species discovery, and species delimitation.