TY - JOUR

T1 - Using DNA Metabarcoding to Identify Floral Visitation by Pollinators

AU - Lowe, Abigail

AU - Jones, Laura

AU - Witter, Lucy

AU - Creer, Simon

AU - de Vere, Natasha

PY - 2022/3/24

Y1 - 2022/3/24

N2 - The identification of floral visitation by pollinators provides an opportunity to improve our understanding of the fine-scale ecological interactions between plants and pollinators, contributing to biodiversity conservation and promoting ecosystem health. In this review, we outline the various methods which can be used to identify floral visitation, including plant-focused and insect-focused methods. We reviewed the literature covering the ways in which DNA metabarcoding has been used to answer ecological questions relating to plant use by pollinators and discuss the findings of this research. We present detailed methodological considerations for each step of the metabarcoding workflow, from sampling through to amplification, and finally bioinformatic analysis. Detailed guidance is provided to researchers for utilisation of these techniques, emphasising the importance of standardisation of methods and improving the reliability of results. Future opportunities and directions of using molecular methods to analyse plant–pollinator interactions are then discussed.

AB - The identification of floral visitation by pollinators provides an opportunity to improve our understanding of the fine-scale ecological interactions between plants and pollinators, contributing to biodiversity conservation and promoting ecosystem health. In this review, we outline the various methods which can be used to identify floral visitation, including plant-focused and insect-focused methods. We reviewed the literature covering the ways in which DNA metabarcoding has been used to answer ecological questions relating to plant use by pollinators and discuss the findings of this research. We present detailed methodological considerations for each step of the metabarcoding workflow, from sampling through to amplification, and finally bioinformatic analysis. Detailed guidance is provided to researchers for utilisation of these techniques, emphasising the importance of standardisation of methods and improving the reliability of results. Future opportunities and directions of using molecular methods to analyse plant–pollinator interactions are then discussed.

KW - DNA metabarcoding

KW - pollen

KW - pollinators

KW - pollen metabarcoding

KW - plant–pollinator interactions

KW - DNA barcoding

KW - honeybees

KW - bumblebees

KW - hoverflies

U2 - 10.3390/d14040236

DO - 10.3390/d14040236

M3 - Review article

VL - 14

JO - Diversity

JF - Diversity

SN - 1424-2818

IS - 4

ER -