Identification of Engraulids (Encrasicholina punctifer and E. pseudoheteroloba) using the COI gene as a DNA barcoding marker

Abstract

The genus Encrasicholina includes economically and ecologically important pelagic small sized anchovies. These fish are endemic to Indo-Pacific waters and are also found in the Persian Gulf. Due to harmful human activities in different forms, the ecosystem of Persian Gulf has suffered great damages in recent decades and its biodiversity is threatened. Therefore, its sustainable development and the preservation of its biodiversity is essential. The first step to achieve this goal is to identify the accurate species biodiversity. DNA barcoding method based on mitochondrial DNA is widely applied to identify the phylogenetic relationships between the species. In this study, we examined the utility of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) for identification of Encrasicholina genus in the Persian Gulf. Sequences sent to the “Barcod of Life Data systems” and NCBI confirmed the morphological identification results. In fact, the larvae that their morphological characteristics were insufficient to identify, were validly identified with COI gene sequences. The intra-species genetic distance based on K2P was % 0.00, while the average interspecific distance was % 18.2. Phylogenetic trees showed that the studied Anchovies were in two sister clades. The results of this study suggested that the COI gene has the ability to distinguish the fish species. The results of molecular analyses were in accordance with the results of morphology.

Keywords

• dna barcoding
• cytochrome oxidase
• subunit1 gene
• encrasicholina
• persian gulf