Current progress Current progress of Mexico in the of Mexico in the

iBOL project iBOL project

MexicoMexico, with a surface only two million km2 , with a surface only two million km2 and 10,000 km of littoral zone, occupies the and 10,000 km of littoral zone, occupies the

fourth place in biodiversityfourth place in biodiversity of the world* of the world*

*Source: Capital Natural De México, Vol I: Conocimiento Actual De La Biodiversidad. México, pp 33-65. Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO), México.

2nd Place with 804 spp. (8240)

2nd place with 449 spp. (4170)

4th place with 361spp. (4780)

12th place 1,150 spp. (9,198)

2200 marine and 500 freshwater fishesHere we found 7.37% of marine fishes of the word

1st place 669 spp. (1400) 518 are endemics

1st place 55 spp. (110 ) 47 are endemics

Currently Mexico has been developing several strategies for the advance of the barcoding projects and researchers involved:

Support to the Mexican Barcode of Life (MEXBOL)

Promote barcoding as a powerful tool for taxonomists

Developing strategies to lower costs and preparation of a portfolio of projects to submit to different funding agencies

Involvement in other initiatives

Support and advice for results publishing

AdvanceAdvance

Support to MEXBOL Support to MEXBOL MEXBOL MEXBOL network is one of 20 thematic networks network is one of 20 thematic networks supportedsupported

by the Mexican Council of Science and Technology by the Mexican Council of Science and Technology ((CONACYTCONACYT, see h, see httpttp://://www.conacyt.gob.mxwww.conacyt.gob.mx//RedesTematicasRedesTematicas/Paginas//Paginas/default.aspxdefault.aspx).).

After an open call this year, we submitted two proposals to After an open call this year, we submitted two proposals to CONACYT for direct support of the MEXBOL network. In total CONACYT for direct support of the MEXBOL network. In total were approved MXN 3,315,250.00 (near 255,000.00 dlls).were approved MXN 3,315,250.00 (near 255,000.00 dlls).

From the total $94,000 dlls will be used for equipment.From the total $94,000 dlls will be used for equipment.

$90,000 dlls must be used for a general meeting of the $90,000 dlls must be used for a general meeting of the MEXBOL network, perdiem, and maintenance of the WEB MEXBOL network, perdiem, and maintenance of the WEB serviceservice

Remaining money will be used in consumables and Remaining money will be used in consumables and reagentsreagents

The budget for equipment and consumables The budget for equipment and consumables will be used to support the National Lab for the will be used to support the National Lab for the Barcoding, currently with three nodes of high Barcoding, currently with three nodes of high volume PCR and servicing all members of the volume PCR and servicing all members of the network network (50,000 reactions/year).(50,000 reactions/year).

Instituto de Biología

ECOSUR ChetumalCIBNOR La Paz

Development of the Development of the National LabNational Lab

Apart of the support from Apart of the support from CONACYT, each institution involved CONACYT, each institution involved in the nodes gave additional funds.in the nodes gave additional funds.

IBUNAM gained, through a joint IBUNAM gained, through a joint project with other two institutes, a project with other two institutes, a high throughput sequencing facility, high throughput sequencing facility, with a capillary and a 2nd with a capillary and a 2nd generation sequencers.generation sequencers.

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR BIODIVERSITY (CONABIO) BIODIVERSITY (CONABIO)

SUPPORTSUPPORT

A server with hardware and software to A server with hardware and software to support a National Mirror of the BOLD support a National Mirror of the BOLD database and the MEXBOL pagedatabase and the MEXBOL page

Income for a technician (Arturo Income for a technician (Arturo Domínguez García) in charge to develop Domínguez García) in charge to develop the software of the MEXBOL page (~1.5 the software of the MEXBOL page (~1.5 yrs. with a possible extension of time)yrs. with a possible extension of time)

MEXBOL web page

Currently 95 formal members+ ~30 not formally included

UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

Advances in barcodingAdvances in barcoding

Currently, Mexico is among the top ten nations on barcode production with the following groups:

Animals PlantsAcanthocephala (3rd) Magnoliophyta (8th)Annelida (5th) Pinophyta (2nd)Arthropoda (7th)Chordata (3rd) FungiCnidaria (5th) Ascomycota (2nd)Echinodermata (6th)| Basidiomycota (2nd)Nematoda (2nd) Zygomicota (2nd)Platyhelminthes (4th) Chlorarachniophyta (2nd)Rotifera (1st)

Data from the BOLD taxonomy browser (June 20, 2013)

Related Projects Related Projects A submission for equipment in ECOSUR (~300,000 dlls)A submission for equipment in ECOSUR (~300,000 dlls)

14 projects financed by CONABIO are underway or finished14 projects financed by CONABIO are underway or finished

13 projects financed by other sources are underway or 13 projects financed by other sources are underway or finishedfinished

7 new projects submitted by different colleagues involving 7 new projects submitted by different colleagues involving barcodesbarcodes

About 100 students involved in different projects with their About 100 students involved in different projects with their own Thesis or research studiesown Thesis or research studies

Google: In conjunction with the CBOL, to work in the project Google: In conjunction with the CBOL, to work in the project Barcode Wildlife Project to barcode CITES protected species Barcode Wildlife Project to barcode CITES protected species (see h(see https://plus.google.com/107778383819228315340/posts?ttps://plus.google.com/107778383819228315340/posts?hl=es)hl=es)

Academic progressAcademic progress A special volume on Mexican Barcoding A special volume on Mexican Barcoding

(Molecular Ecology Resources) is in progress(Molecular Ecology Resources) is in progress

Preparation of the State of Art on DNA barcoding Preparation of the State of Art on DNA barcoding in Mexicoin Mexico

+63 papers already published by Mexican +63 papers already published by Mexican authors*authors*

An increasing knowledge of biodiversity in this An increasing knowledge of biodiversity in this region of the worldregion of the world

TimelineTimeline

00 11 22 33 44

•Initial funds•Start of National Lab•First results•Start with LIMS

Year

•Consolidate National Lab

•20K sequences

•Start support to collections

•Start mirror facility and LIMS work

•20K sequences•Lab capability fully installed•Supported collections•Crio-preservation associated to collections

•Capacity for 20K or more specimens*•Application of barcodes•Continue support to collections•Consolidation of participation in different iBOL themes

•Most material in collections sequenced•Continue in application•Global review of goals to establish new ones

-2

Negotiation and preparation of the project to CONACYT and CONABIO

Challenges or threatsChallenges or threats Funds have been shortened, intermitent, Funds have been shortened, intermitent,

delayed, and support policies are continuosly delayed, and support policies are continuosly changing in Mexicochanging in Mexico

High pressure from CONACYT to develop only High pressure from CONACYT to develop only applied projectsapplied projects

Reluctance to DNA barcoding by many well Reluctance to DNA barcoding by many well trained taxonomiststrained taxonomists

In general (and for good reasons) Mexicans are quite In general (and for good reasons) Mexicans are quite concerned about their data, they are demanding for a concerned about their data, they are demanding for a BOLD mirror, and the release policy of the iBOL is not BOLD mirror, and the release policy of the iBOL is not welcome for many of them, mainly taxonomistswelcome for many of them, mainly taxonomists..

Thanks!