Unlocking the potential of insect biomonitoring surveys using DNA-metabarcoding: Examples from two nationwide monitoring schemes in the UK

Background/Question/Methods

Insect monitoring schemes have enormous potential for understanding biodiversity declines, but to date have largely been underutilised. We evaluate the use of DNA-metabarcoding of samples from two insect monitoring schemes in the UK and compare them with conventional methods of identification. First, using archived aerial suction samples from the Rothamsted Insect Survey (RIS, collected between 2003-2018). Second, we used FERA yellow water-pan trap (YWT, 70 agricultural sites across the UK) and metabarcoded the 'by-catch' of non-target insects that would otherwise be discarded

Results/Conclusions

We show that it is possible to successfully metabarcode stored samples over a 20 year period. Congruence with taxonomic identifications varied from 25 to 100%. We also examined changes in the seasonal patterns of insect biodiversity. Our results highlight how DNA-metabarcoding can add value to already established bio-monitoring schemes by increasing the breadth of taxa being monitored in traditional surveys by including hitherto overlooked by-catch species. We discuss the emerging trends of how species-interactions can be derived using these methods, ultimately leading to the construction and analysis of highly-resolved ecological networks that can then be used to better understand and mitigate insect declines.