Barcoding Argentine fishes

DÍAZ DE ASTARLOA, J. M.; HANNER, R.; MABRAGAÑA E.; ZHANG, J.; GONZALEZ CASTRO M.

México, Distrito Federal

Congreso; Third International Barcode of Life Conference; 2009

As a contribution to FISH-BOL we analyzed 564 specimens of fishes collected in Argentine waters, representing 125 species. A standard 652 bp BARCODE fragment of the 5´ mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene was amplified and bi-directionally sequenced. All sequence assemblies, electropherogram (trace) files, primer sequences and specimen provenance data were deposited in the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD). This included digital images of morphological voucher specimens as well as GPS coordinates for all specimen collection localities. Using the suite of analytical tools available on BOLD, a Kimura two-parameter (K2P) genetic distance matrix was calculated to estimate the relative sequence divergences within and among species. A Neighbour-joining (NJ) phenogram was also constructed from this distance matrix. Nearly all species exhibited unique BARCODE haplotypes or monophyletic clusters of very closely related haplotypes, which permitted the discrimination of 98.4% of species. K2P genetic distances averaged just 0.21% within species, but averaged 3.92% within genera, 17.04% within families, 23.98% within orders and 25.23% within classes. Only the skates Psammobatis rudis and P. normani could not be separated from each other using barcodes. The use of barcodes within an integrative taxonomic framework confirmed the identification of a new species of longnose skate (Dipturus argentinensis) from the Argentine Sea and also permitted the recognition of the Brazilian cusk eel (Genypterus brasiliensis) as a valid species. Although some groups are highlighted for further taxonomic analysis these results support the utility of DNA barcodes for regional species identification of fishes. When comparing these results to other projects on BOLD, standardizing the application of names across collections/regions emerges as a significant challenge for FISH-BOL. However, we conclude this long-standing issue is most efficiently addressed through DNA barcoding. Although some groups are highlighted for further taxonomic analysis these results support the utility of DNA barcodes for regional species identification of fishes. When comparing these results to other projects on BOLD, standardizing the application of names across collections/regions emerges as a significant challenge for FISH-BOL. However, we conclude this long-standing issue is most efficiently addressed through DNA barcoding. Psammobatis rudis and P. normani could not be separated from each other using barcodes. The use of barcodes within an integrative taxonomic framework confirmed the identification of a new species of longnose skate (Dipturus argentinensis) from the Argentine Sea and also permitted the recognition of the Brazilian cusk eel (Genypterus brasiliensis) as a valid species. Although some groups are highlighted for further taxonomic analysis these results support the utility of DNA barcodes for regional species identification of fishes. When comparing these results to other projects on BOLD, standardizing the application of names across collections/regions emerges as a significant challenge for FISH-BOL. However, we conclude this long-standing issue is most efficiently addressed through DNA barcoding.