DNA Barcoding of Dominant Species in the Sardine Fishery of Northern Mindanao

Abstract

DNA barcoding was done to identify the dominant species of sardines that comprised the landed catch of the sardine fishery in the Northern Mindanao Region (NMR), and juveniles or "lupoy" in the Northern Zamboanga Peninsula (NZP). Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) minibarcodes were sequenced for all samples, while 16S ribosomal subunit sequences were obtained from a subset of samples. In reference to a previously reported land catch survey, sequence data confirmed the identity of the most dominant sardines in NMR and lupoy from NZP as Sardinella lemuru. Meanwhile, those reported as S. gibbosa were identified as Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus, while those reported as S. pacifica were identified as the recently described S. goni. Results highlight: 1) the limitation in identifying sardines during land catch surveys without further taxonomic verification, and 2) the utility of DNA barcoding as a tool for species identification. Moreover, genetic data revealed that S. goni occurs in the fisheries of NMR, thereby expanding its known habitat range. Since this study was limited only in using DNA barcodes for identification, a detailed morphological examination of the dominant sardines is recommended.

DNA barcoding of marine teleost fishes (Teleostei) in Cebu, the Philippines, a biodiversity hotspot of the coral triangle

“… 8 , 9 ); however, few studies have reported its use in the taxonomy, phylogeny, specimen-based identification, or to enrich species listing of marine fishes. To date, fish DNA barcoding studies in the country have primarily concentrated on major freshwater lakes 10 – 13 , while its application to marine ichthyofaunal diversity has been focused on specific groups of taxa with commercial importance, such as sardines (Dorosomatidae) 14 , 15 , groupers (Epinephelidae) 16 , trevallies (Carangidae) and snappers (Lutjanidae) 17 which were collected from different sites in the country or from a specific area such as in the Cuyo Island, Palawan or in Northern Mindanao. Similarly, Willette & Padin 18 and Torres & Santos 19 used DNA barcodes of three marine Caranx species from the freshwater environment to resolve the identification and establish their phylogenetic relationship with extant marine species.…”