mtDNA COI and Cyt b Analysis of Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758) Species Living in Atatürk Dam Lake (Turkey)

Abstract

Today, biological invasion is one of the leading threats to biodiversity and is an issue that is gaining more and more importance. In recent years, molecular techniques have been widely used in the identification and monitoring of invasive species in many parts of the world. This study aimed to detect the infested species, Carassius auratus, in Atatürk Dam Lake and to reveal the population status. For these purposes, 10 Carassius auratus specimens were randomly selected from Atatürk Dam Lake. After DNA isolation of the selected samples, mtDNA COI and cyt b gene regions were sequenced and analyzed. In this study, sequence analyzes of individuals belonging to the C. auratus species living in Atatürk Dam Lake were performed for the first time using mtDNA COI and cyt b markers. Analyzed sequence results were compared with databases and it was concluded that the results obtained for both mtDNA markers were compatible. No other variation was observed. When the results are evaluated as a whole, it is possible to say that this species has spread recently. In future studies, it is recommended to determine the invasive species populations that are intensely found in Atatürk Dam Lake and other lakes and to determine the necessary strategies to combat these invasive species