Objectives: - The JEMU-flagship project is proposed to expand, to reinforce and to underpin ongoing research programmes on dipteran taxonomy and morphology by a DNA barcoding component. As such the project would join current collaborative dipteran research programmes in which both RMCA and RBINS are involved either for their taxonomic expertise, or for their research facilities and reference collections. This project will provide added value to all of these projects by approaching specific problems within the field of molecular diagnostics and DNA barcoding.
Deliverables: - This project will provide a substantial Contribution to the taxonomic components of several ongoing research programs between both Federal Institutions and several other Belgian research groups. The contribution will consist of approximately 2,000 DNA barcodes generated through the different subprojects, and with reference to voucher specimens housed in the Federal institutions. Furthermore, it will involve the production of taxonomic identification tools that will facilitate species recognition that was hitherto impossible for several non-adult stages of several important dipteran taxa. In the same context, the project will be essential to resolve several current taxonomic problems related to the pervasive occurrence of cryptic taxa in many of the target groups. Finally, the project will provide significant contributions to two ongoing demonstration projects of the CBOL consortium (Tephritid Barcoding Initiative, Mosquito Barcoding Initiative), as well as to the publicly available database of DNA barcodes established by CBOL, viz. BOLD, thereby reinforcing the role of both the RBINS and RMCA as international taxonomic reference centers.
Rationale: - The order of Diptera or two-winged flies, is one of the most specious insect groups in the world. They are diverse not only in species richness but also in their morphology, habitat exploitation, life histories and interactions with humankind. Regarding the latter, their impact is tremendous and cannot be overestimated. Because of their importance, there is a long history of dipteran research in different fields in Belgium, including forensic entomology, the taxonomy of fruit flies, and the diversity of syrphid pollinators. Both the RBINS and the RMCA had, and still have, a pivotal role in this research either as institutions that engaged scientists in Dipteran research, or as a centre of information and collection depository. Both institutions still perform this catalytic role and researchers of both institutions are actively involved in taxonomic, phylogenetic and ecological research of different dipteran taxa, usually in collaboration with national and international institutions that seek our expertise. All these research activities require accurate species recognition and delimitation. Yet, several dipteran taxa still pose challenging taxonomic and identification problems.