DNA Barcoding of Mullets (Family Mugilidae) from Pakistan Reveals Surprisingly High Number of Unknown Candidate Species
The mullets are a widespread group of ecologically and economically important fishes of disputed taxonomy due to their uniform external morphology. Barcoding and phylogenetic studies from various locations around the world largely highlighted the species diversity underestimation using morphological...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-05-01
|
| Series: | Diversity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/6/232 |
| _version_ | 1797532594716278784 |
|---|---|
| author | Ariba Hasan Pirzada Jamal Ahmed Siddiqui Shabir Ali Amir Jean-Dominique Durand |
| author_facet | Ariba Hasan Pirzada Jamal Ahmed Siddiqui Shabir Ali Amir Jean-Dominique Durand |
| author_sort | Ariba Hasan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The mullets are a widespread group of ecologically and economically important fishes of disputed taxonomy due to their uniform external morphology. Barcoding and phylogenetic studies from various locations around the world largely highlighted the species diversity underestimation using morphological criteria used to establish the taxonomy of the family. Here, we investigated the mullet species diversity from Pakistan, a biogeographic area where nearly no mullet species were genetically characterized. Morphological examination of 40 mullets reveals 6 known species (<i>Planiliza macrolepis</i>, <i>P. klunzingeri</i>, <i>P. subviridis</i>, <i>Crenimugil seheli</i>, <i>Ellochelon vaigiensis</i>, and <i>Mugil cephalus</i>). Using a references DNA barcode library, the DNA barcode-based species identification flagged eight molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) belonging to five genera <i>(Crenimugil</i>, <i>Ellochelon</i>, <i>Mugil</i>, <i>Osteomugil</i>, and <i>Planiliza</i>). Among these MOTUs, only one was already present in Barcode of Life Data system, all other representing new Barcode Index Numbers (BIN). These results emphasize the importance of the recognition of cryptic species and the necessity to re-evaluate the overall diversity by the genetic characterization of different species of this family. DNA barcoding is an effective tool to reveal cryptic species that need to be considered in conservation and management measures of fisheries in Pakistan. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:02:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ff3777842f64ef6b22de6cb26d78433 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:02:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ff3777842f64ef6b22de6cb26d784332023-11-21T21:25:15ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182021-05-0113623210.3390/d13060232DNA Barcoding of Mullets (Family Mugilidae) from Pakistan Reveals Surprisingly High Number of Unknown Candidate SpeciesAriba Hasan0Pirzada Jamal Ahmed Siddiqui1Shabir Ali Amir2Jean-Dominique Durand3Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, PakistanCentre of Excellence in Marine Biology, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, PakistanPakistan Museum of Natural History, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian, Islamabad 44000, PakistanMARBEC University Montpellier, IRD, Bat 24 cc093 Place Eugene Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, FranceThe mullets are a widespread group of ecologically and economically important fishes of disputed taxonomy due to their uniform external morphology. Barcoding and phylogenetic studies from various locations around the world largely highlighted the species diversity underestimation using morphological criteria used to establish the taxonomy of the family. Here, we investigated the mullet species diversity from Pakistan, a biogeographic area where nearly no mullet species were genetically characterized. Morphological examination of 40 mullets reveals 6 known species (<i>Planiliza macrolepis</i>, <i>P. klunzingeri</i>, <i>P. subviridis</i>, <i>Crenimugil seheli</i>, <i>Ellochelon vaigiensis</i>, and <i>Mugil cephalus</i>). Using a references DNA barcode library, the DNA barcode-based species identification flagged eight molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) belonging to five genera <i>(Crenimugil</i>, <i>Ellochelon</i>, <i>Mugil</i>, <i>Osteomugil</i>, and <i>Planiliza</i>). Among these MOTUs, only one was already present in Barcode of Life Data system, all other representing new Barcode Index Numbers (BIN). These results emphasize the importance of the recognition of cryptic species and the necessity to re-evaluate the overall diversity by the genetic characterization of different species of this family. DNA barcoding is an effective tool to reveal cryptic species that need to be considered in conservation and management measures of fisheries in Pakistan.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/6/232MugilidaeCytochrome Oxidase IArabian Seacryptic speciessequence divergence |
| spellingShingle | Ariba Hasan Pirzada Jamal Ahmed Siddiqui Shabir Ali Amir Jean-Dominique Durand DNA Barcoding of Mullets (Family Mugilidae) from Pakistan Reveals Surprisingly High Number of Unknown Candidate Species Diversity Mugilidae Cytochrome Oxidase I Arabian Sea cryptic species sequence divergence |
| title | DNA Barcoding of Mullets (Family Mugilidae) from Pakistan Reveals Surprisingly High Number of Unknown Candidate Species |
| title_full | DNA Barcoding of Mullets (Family Mugilidae) from Pakistan Reveals Surprisingly High Number of Unknown Candidate Species |
| title_fullStr | DNA Barcoding of Mullets (Family Mugilidae) from Pakistan Reveals Surprisingly High Number of Unknown Candidate Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | DNA Barcoding of Mullets (Family Mugilidae) from Pakistan Reveals Surprisingly High Number of Unknown Candidate Species |
| title_short | DNA Barcoding of Mullets (Family Mugilidae) from Pakistan Reveals Surprisingly High Number of Unknown Candidate Species |
| title_sort | dna barcoding of mullets family mugilidae from pakistan reveals surprisingly high number of unknown candidate species |
| topic | Mugilidae Cytochrome Oxidase I Arabian Sea cryptic species sequence divergence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/6/232 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aribahasan dnabarcodingofmulletsfamilymugilidaefrompakistanrevealssurprisinglyhighnumberofunknowncandidatespecies AT pirzadajamalahmedsiddiqui dnabarcodingofmulletsfamilymugilidaefrompakistanrevealssurprisinglyhighnumberofunknowncandidatespecies AT shabiraliamir dnabarcodingofmulletsfamilymugilidaefrompakistanrevealssurprisinglyhighnumberofunknowncandidatespecies AT jeandominiquedurand dnabarcodingofmulletsfamilymugilidaefrompakistanrevealssurprisinglyhighnumberofunknowncandidatespecies |