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Inger Greve Alsos from UNIS and her colleagues have been collecting
samples from plants growing in Svalbard. The samples are being DNA-analysed
and barcoded in order to establish what specie each of them belongs to. DNA
makes the taxonomy easy. In 2003, the DNA barcoding initiative was
born at the University of Guelph in Canada. Since then, the
Barcode of Life
Initiative (BOLI) has attracted international participation. The
Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), an online data management system
maintaining barcode records, is also operating out of Canada. BOLD is an
open system and available to all with an interest in biology and species
identification.
DNA barcoding is a new technique that uses a short DNA sequence from a
standardized and agreed-upon position in the genome for species-level
identification. DNA barcode sequences are very short relative to the entire
genome and they can be obtained reasonably quickly and cheaply, making it
possible to identify species with high confidence.
Alsos was mostly working in an area near Longyearbyen, but she and her
team also visited various locations around Isfjorden and Bockfjorden. The
latter site is particularly interesting as many rare species can be found
there in high concentrations.
The samples collection has been complemented by additions from
universities herbaria in Oslo, Trondheim and Tromsų. The additions made the
collection complete: all known plants in Svalbard (285 samples) are
represented. The samples are being shipped to Canada for DNA barcoding
analysis.
Contact: Inger Greve Alsos, UNIS (ingera@unis.no)
Source: UNIS news:
"Fingerprinting" all Svalbard plants
See also: comprehensive guide to flora in
Svalbard at:
Svalbardflora.net
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Packing samples for DNA analysis (photo: Eva Therese Jensen, UNIS)
Silverweed (Potentilla pulchella) - a common plant in Svalbard (photo:
Kristine Westergaard, UiT)
Map of plant sampling locations in Svalbard (source: Svalbardflora.net)
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