Genetic barcoding of museum eggshell improves data integrity of avian biological collections

Abstract Natural history collections are often plagued by missing or inaccurate metadata for collection items, particularly for specimens that are difficult to verify or rare. Avian eggshell in particular can be challenging to identify due to extensive morphological ambiguity among taxa. Species ide...

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Autores principales:	Alicia Grealy, Naomi E. Langmore, Leo Joseph, Clare E. Holleley
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/e52d76ea5594457ca272ea1a2fa6bdd6
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:e52d76ea5594457ca272ea1a2fa6bdd62021-12-02T14:01:19ZGenetic barcoding of museum eggshell improves data integrity of avian biological collections10.1038/s41598-020-79852-42045-2322https://doaj.org/article/e52d76ea5594457ca272ea1a2fa6bdd62021-01-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79852-4https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Natural history collections are often plagued by missing or inaccurate metadata for collection items, particularly for specimens that are difficult to verify or rare. Avian eggshell in particular can be challenging to identify due to extensive morphological ambiguity among taxa. Species identifications can be improved using DNA extracted from museum eggshell; however, the suitability of current methods for use on small museum eggshell specimens has not been rigorously tested, hindering uptake. In this study, we compare three sampling methodologies to genetically identify 45 data-poor eggshell specimens, including a putatively extinct bird’s egg. Using an optimised drilling technique to retrieve eggshell powder, we demonstrate that sufficient DNA for molecular identification can be obtained from even the tiniest eggshells without significant alteration to the specimen’s appearance or integrity. This method proved superior to swabbing the external surface or sampling the interior; however, we also show that these methods can be viable alternatives. We then applied our drilling method to confirm that a purported clutch of Paradise Parrot eggs collected 40 years after the species’ accepted extinction date were falsely identified, laying to rest a 53-year-old ornithological controversy. Thus, even the smallest museum eggshells can offer new insights into old questions.Alicia GrealyNaomi E. LangmoreLeo JosephClare E. HolleleyNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Alicia Grealy Naomi E. Langmore Leo Joseph Clare E. Holleley Genetic barcoding of museum eggshell improves data integrity of avian biological collections
description	Abstract Natural history collections are often plagued by missing or inaccurate metadata for collection items, particularly for specimens that are difficult to verify or rare. Avian eggshell in particular can be challenging to identify due to extensive morphological ambiguity among taxa. Species identifications can be improved using DNA extracted from museum eggshell; however, the suitability of current methods for use on small museum eggshell specimens has not been rigorously tested, hindering uptake. In this study, we compare three sampling methodologies to genetically identify 45 data-poor eggshell specimens, including a putatively extinct bird’s egg. Using an optimised drilling technique to retrieve eggshell powder, we demonstrate that sufficient DNA for molecular identification can be obtained from even the tiniest eggshells without significant alteration to the specimen’s appearance or integrity. This method proved superior to swabbing the external surface or sampling the interior; however, we also show that these methods can be viable alternatives. We then applied our drilling method to confirm that a purported clutch of Paradise Parrot eggs collected 40 years after the species’ accepted extinction date were falsely identified, laying to rest a 53-year-old ornithological controversy. Thus, even the smallest museum eggshells can offer new insights into old questions.
format	article
author	Alicia Grealy Naomi E. Langmore Leo Joseph Clare E. Holleley
author_facet	Alicia Grealy Naomi E. Langmore Leo Joseph Clare E. Holleley
author_sort	Alicia Grealy
title	Genetic barcoding of museum eggshell improves data integrity of avian biological collections
title_short	Genetic barcoding of museum eggshell improves data integrity of avian biological collections
title_full	Genetic barcoding of museum eggshell improves data integrity of avian biological collections
title_fullStr	Genetic barcoding of museum eggshell improves data integrity of avian biological collections
title_full_unstemmed	Genetic barcoding of museum eggshell improves data integrity of avian biological collections
title_sort	genetic barcoding of museum eggshell improves data integrity of avian biological collections
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/e52d76ea5594457ca272ea1a2fa6bdd6
work_keys_str_mv	AT aliciagrealy geneticbarcodingofmuseumeggshellimprovesdataintegrityofavianbiologicalcollections AT naomielangmore geneticbarcodingofmuseumeggshellimprovesdataintegrityofavianbiologicalcollections AT leojoseph geneticbarcodingofmuseumeggshellimprovesdataintegrityofavianbiologicalcollections AT clareeholleley geneticbarcodingofmuseumeggshellimprovesdataintegrityofavianbiologicalcollections
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Genetic barcoding of museum eggshell improves data integrity of avian biological collections

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