DNA barcoding commercially important aquatic invertebrates of Turkey

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Molecular Ecology
• Fisheries Science

Background:

• Accurate identification of aquatic invertebrates is crucial for fisheries management.
• Fisheries bycatch and discards represent a significant ecological and economic component.
• DNA barcoding offers a molecular approach for species identification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utility of DNA barcoding for identifying aquatic invertebrates from fisheries bycatch and discards.
• To generate and submit cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcodes for 22 species to public databases.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of COI barcodes in taxonomic classification and biodiversity assessment.

Main Methods:

• DNA extraction and amplification of the mitochondrial COI gene (654 bp fragment).
• Sequencing and submission of 440 unique COI barcodes to GenBank and BOLD databases.
• Analysis of nucleotide composition, pair frequencies, and genetic distances; construction of Neighbor-Joining trees.

Main Results:

• Generated 440 unique COI barcodes for 22 species across Arthropoda, Cnidaria, and Mollusca.
• Achieved first-time database records for two species in BOLD and six species in GenBank.
• Demonstrated that genetic distance increases with higher taxonomic levels, aligning with morphometric classification.

Conclusions:

• DNA barcoding is an efficient molecular tool for identifying fisheries bycatch and discard species.
• This method enhances understanding for monitoring and managing fisheries and aquatic biodiversity.
• The generated barcodes provide valuable data for public genetic databases and future research.