Insect Bioliteracy Group

Despite over 260 years of taxonomic scrutiny, only a tiny fraction of the Earth’s species have been scientifically named and described. Thus, we remain largely illiterate with respect to the biological diversity that surrounds us. The remaining components of biodiversity are likely to be difficult to elucidate on account of their high species diversity, since past taxonomic research has focused on relatively species-poor groups of organisms that typically have large body size. The groups that are species-rich are also typically tiny in individual size, and often possess few morphological cues for adequate taxonomic circumscription and identification. Such groups are often referred to as ‘dark taxa’.
Biologi tutkii kasvia suurennuslasilla, taustalla on metsää.
Insect Bioliteracy Group

Research group information

Unit and faculty

Ecology and Genetics
Faculty of Science

Research group description

Despite over 260 years of taxonomic scrutiny, only a tiny fraction of the Earth’s species have been scientifically named and described. Thus, we remain largely illiterate with respect to the biological diversity that surrounds us. The remaining components of biodiversity are likely to be difficult to elucidate on account of their high species diversity, since past taxonomic research has focused on relatively species-poor groups of organisms that typically have large body size. The groups that are species-rich are also typically tiny in individual size, and often possess few morphological cues for adequate taxonomic circumscription and identification. Such groups are often referred to as ‘dark taxa’.

We believe that the ‘taxonomic impediment’ can only be overcome through genomics means. All taxonomically relevant information is encoded in an organism’s DNA. Species delimitations of particularly dark taxa being based on genetic data would provide efficient means for species delimitation and enable a rapid, automatable reference system to work done by other researchers. Amid biodiversity loss and high extinction rate, we must accelerate the taxonomic workflow in a radical way.

Our research group is pointing the way ahead towards the bio-literate future. Our primary research focusses include:

  • DNA barcoding and leading Finnish Barcode of Life (FinBOL, http://www.finbol.org)
  • Molecular species delimitation
  • Phylogenomics
  • Dark taxa and minimalistic taxonomy
  • Diversity of Lepidoptera and sawflies (Symphyta)

    http://www.finbol.org