Rabinowitz, C.N., S.D. Brown, S.M. McAllister, A.K. Winans, J.E. Keister, and M.P. Galaska (2023): The complete mitochondrial genome of Cyphocaris challengeri (Amphipoda: Cyphocarididae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 8(10), 1128-1131, https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2023.2270206
Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has become a widely used, non-invasive tool to assess the biodiversity of marine systems. The sampling methodology relies on curated reference databases (i.e., a library of organismal sequences). While some well-known species possess full mitochondrial genome references, most only have representatives from one or a few mitochondrial genes in these databases, or no reference sequences at all, which limits the accuracy of eDNA as a tool for biodiversity monitoring. Our group (OME) is actively working to fill in the gaps to improve species identification and as a result our monitoring efforts.
The amphipod Cyphocaris challengeri is a globally distributed, highly abundant species that plays an important role in the pelagic food web. Before this study, there were no mitochondrial genomes for the Family Cyphocarididae, and no mitochondrial sequences at all for the Cyphocaris genus. We sequenced the mitochondrial genome for this species to enhance our ability to detect this species and its close relatives in the environment.