Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies), or “EPT”, are commonly encountered aquatic insects and are widely used in freshwater biomonitoring. However, the difficulties in species-level identification, especially of immature stages, have hindered their implementation. DNA barcoding can improve resolution on taxonomic identification, enable confident association of larval and adult stages, and discriminate cryptic species. A COI barcode reference library established from expertly identified specimens is a prerequisite for applying DNA barcoding to the identification of aquatic insects. The GSMNP has highly diversified EPT fauna and is an ideal region for a model study of DNA barcoding of EPTs. A new EPT blitz is proposed to survey a broader area of the Park (especially central, southern, and eastern portions) with an emphasis on authoritatively identified adults. This survey will discover new Park species, discover new species for science, and establish a COI barcode reference library for all EPT species collected during the survey.

Principal Investigator

PI Name:  Dr. Xin Zhou

PI Organization:  Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph