DNA barcoding: A potential tool for invasive species identification

Abstract

Invasive alien species epitomize the group of nonindigenous species that invade a geographic area and impose detrimental effects environmentally, ecologically, and economically. The management of invasive species will be less complicated at the primary stage of invasion since their population will be represented by a few numbers of individuals. But the detection of these tew individuals will be a strenuous task if they are cryptic and exhibit low detectability. Molecular diagnostic tools bestow favorable support for the precise and brisk detection of morphologically indefinite alien species. The more recent outbreak of DNA barcoding lends inspiration for the assessment of biodiversity in a more accurate and also in an inexpensive manner. This typical procedure stands out as a reliable toolkit for the detection of individual/bulk samples, forensic residues, and environmental DNA and enhances rapid response management. Several DNA barcodes, including mitochondrial COI gene, rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA, and ITS (nuclear internal transcribed spacer), have been extensively used as a global bioidentification system for detecting the alien species that invade different ecosystems. This chapter discusses invasive species and the implication of DNA barcoding in their identification as well as management process.