Environmental DNA for Detection of Endangered Grouper Species (Epinephelus spp.)
Journal Title: Natural and Engineering Sciences - Year 2016, Vol 1, Issue 3
Abstract
Marine ecosystems nestle species or populations known to be threatened due to human overexploitation. Reliable detection and monitoring of threatened organisms is crucial for data-driven conservation actions. Furthermore, misidentification of species represents a major problem. Here, we investigate the potential of using metabarcoding of environmental DNA (eDNA) obtained directly from seawater samples to detect endangered grouper species (Epinephelus spp.). Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) fragment of mtDNA was used to detect groupers species in the Mediterranean Coasts. We conducted eDNA sampling at sites by underwater diving across the range of the Grouper species habitats in Northeastern Mediterranean (Antalya-Kas Region and Iskenderun Bay). eDNA was isolated from 2 liter seawater samples which were vacuum-filtered onto 0.45-mm membrane filters. Filters were then folded inwards, placed in 2 ml tubes and stored at -20 oC until DNA extraction, which took place within 24 hours. DNA was extracted from the water sample filters using the DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit (Qiagen, USA). Manufacturer’s protocols were used during all steps. PCR amplification of eDNA samples were done using selective primers of COI region of mitochondrial DNA, and next-generation DNA sequencing of PCR application was conducted. For the successfully obtained COI sequences, maximum matching rates were revealed as 80% for Epinephelus marginatus, 78,95% for Epinephelus aeneus, 73,48% for Epinephelus costae, 63,45% for Epinephelus caninus, 60,12% for Mycteroperca rubra and 57,12% for Hyporthodus haifensis. Despite the methodological challenges inherent in eDNA analysis, the results demonstrated that eDNA method may be proved to step towards a new beginning to detect and monitor endangered grouper species.
Authors and Affiliations
Servet Ahmet Doğdu, Cemal Turan
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP226664
- DOI -
- Views 141
- Downloads 0
Relation between Center Coloring and the other Colorings
In this paper, center coloring and center coloring number are defined, some bounds are established for the center coloring number of a graph in terms of other graphical coloring parameters, and a polynomial time algorith...
The Effect of Suplementary Pelargonium sidoides Extract on Growth of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822))
A preliminary study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of the Pelargonium sidoides extract on African catfish, Clarias gariepinus growth performance, feed efficiency and body composition. The...
First Scientific Records of the Invasive Red Swamp Crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) (Crustacea: Cambaridae) in Malta, a Threat to Fragile Freshwater Habitats.
This study reports the first records of the invasive fresh water red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii in Malta, first spotted in the wild in summer 2016. In spring 2017, 26 specimens of P. clarkii were collected, sexe...
Heavy Metal Pollution Around International Hatay Airport
In this study, it was aimed to determine the heavy metal pollution in the agricultural lands around Hatay airport and travel possible alteration in the amount of heavy metal on the land in accordance with the distance to...
First record of Atelopsalis pacifica (Acari: Halacaridae) from Turkey
The genus Atelopsalis is reported for the first time from Turkey. The material examined in the present study was collected at Kaş (36.157583° N, 29.630333° E) from 30 m depth on the West Coast of Antalya in Turkey. Gener...