Phylogenetic Analysis of Scorpion Species (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae) Distributed in the Aegean Sea
Project no. 1169 · Status: Kapanmış · 2017
Summary
The scorpionfishes in the genus Scorpaena are benthic inhabitants of mostly rocky habitats, distributed in temperate and tropical seas. Their commercial value and ecological niches increase the importance of correct identification of the species for fisheries and habitat management. The traditional identification of the species is carried out by a combination of some morphological features, metric measurements and meristic counts. In this study, 173 specimens of S. porcus (n= 50), S. elongata (n= 20), S. scrofa (n= 101), S. notata (n= 2) were obtained from commercial fishermen in the Aegean Sea between 2017 and 2019. 161 of the individuals were used in morphometric analysis and 25 specimens were used in the phylogenetic analysis. Multivariate statistical analysis [Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA)] was conducted on 16 morphometric measurements in order to discriminate the species by minimum variables. Seven measurements taken from the head region (body depth, head length, eye diameter, preorbital length, postorbital length, interorbital length, jaw length) discriminated these three species with 100% success in DFA. Samples used in phylogenetic analyzes were compared with the species recorded in the gene bank of COI gene sequences by Blast method. The blast analysis results of the samples, of which appropriate DNA was obtained as a result of DNA analysis from the collected samples, were examined. The blast result of 11 samples whose morphological identification was made as S. porcus was found as S. dispar. Species identified morphologically as S. notata were also defined molecularly. Morphological and molecular determinations of 9 out of 11 S. scrofa specimens gave the same result. It was determined that the blast result of 3 samples defined as S. elongata was S. neglecta. Key Words: Scorpaenidae, Phylogenetic, Morphometric, Aegean Sea Acknowledgment This research project (Project No: 2017/SUF/015) was financially supported by Ege University Scientific Research Projects (BAP) Coordinatorship. As the whole project team, we would like to thank BAP unit of our university for their contribution.