Barcoding Antarctic Fishes: Species Discrimination and Contribution to Elucidate Ontogenetic Changes in Nototheniidae

ROSSO, J.J.; HANNER, R.; DELPIANI, S.M.; DELI ANTONI, M.; MABRAGAÑA, E.; GONZÁLEZ CASTRO, M.; DÍAZ DE ASTARLOA, J.M.

DNA Barcoding in Marine Perspectives. Assessment and Conservation of Biodiversity

Springer International Publishing

Año: 2016; p. 213 - 242

Fish species richness in the Southern Ocean accounts for approximately 2 % of the worlds ocean species, with more than 370 species registered and several awaiting for formal description. Here we explore on the use of DNA barcoding to discriminate fishes from Antarctic Peninsula. A total of 275 specimens, belonging to 36 different putative species were barcoded. Interspecific divergence was relatively high except in some species within Artedidraconidae, Liparidae, and Zoarcidae. Nearly all species exhibit unique barcodes or clusters of closely related haplotypes, and only two species of Pogonophryne lacked genetic resolution using Barcode Index Numbers (BINs). Exploring public data on BOLD we found that four BINs included more than one valid species. Thus, 88.6 % of the west Antarctic species barcoded could be identified at species level with accuracy using BINs. However the use of nucleotic diagnostic character allowed us to discriminate the remaining species. Finally, we highlighted ontogenetic morphological traits observed in some Notothenidae, which may lead to misidentification of juveniles. DNA Barcoding was a cornerstone element for obtaining a reliable identification of these specimens. These results are very relevant for management and conservation purposes since an accurate species­level resolution of juveniles is necessary to determine nursery areas and to clarify species distributions.