Barcoding of Asian seabass across its geographic range provides evidence for its bifurcation into two distinct species

Abstract

Asian seabass or barramundi (Lates calcarifer) is an important food fish with commercial value and a wide geographic distribution. Though some reports based on molecular and/or morphological data exist, a comprehensive effort to establish species identity across its range is lacking. In order to address this issue and especially to ascertain whether the widespread distribution has resulted in bifurcation of the species, we collected Asian seabass samples from various locations representing the Western and Eastern Coastline of India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bangladesh and Australia. Samples from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore were collected as part of a previous study. DNA sequence variations, including cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), 16S rDNA and the highly variable D-loop (or control region), were examined to establish species delineation. Data from all the sequences analyzed concordantly point to the existence of at least two distinct species-one representing the Indian subcontinent plus Myanmar, and a second, representing Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia) plus Northern Australia. These data are useful for conservation ecology, aquaculture management, for establishing the extent of genetic diversity in the Asian seabass and implementing selective breeding programs for members of this species complex.

Genetic variability, local selection and demographic history: genomic evidence of evolving towards allopatric speciation in Asian seabass

“…; Vij et al . ). Studies using different types of genetic markers identified substantial differences between populations from South‐East Asia and northern Australia and suggested that Asian seabass in Australia were founded by ancestors from South‐East Asia (Chenoweth et al .…”

Mitochondrial genomes and phylogenetic relationships of Lates japonicus, Lates niloticus, and Psammoperca waigiensis (Perciformes: Latidae)

“…With the exception of L. calcarifer (Lin et al 2006;Vij et al 2014), genomic resources for the family Latidae are still fairly limited. In addition, from an evolutionary and taxonomic perspective, the status and relationships of the family to other Perciform groups is uncertain or unresolved (Vij et al 2014;Harrington et al 2016).…”

Review on distribution, culture practices, food and feeding, brood development and artificial breeding of Seabass, Lates calcarifer (BLOCH 1790): Bangladesh perspective

“…Due to its high market value, it has turned into anappealing item of both large and small-scale aquaculture companies. Evidence shows that the L. calcarifer has been recorded as a catadromous species, inhabiting rivers before returning to seawater to spawn, as well as protandric hermaphrodite, shows one of the most complicated life histories among fishes (Moore, 1979;Moore and Reynold, 1982;Vij et al, 2014). Sea bass is also widely distributed across the Indo-West Pacific region, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Persian Gulf, Northern Australia and Southern China.…”

“…Sea bass is also widely distributed across the Indo-West Pacific region, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Persian Gulf, Northern Australia and Southern China. (Al-Noor et al, 2012;Siddik et al, 2016;Vij et al, 2014). From an aquaculture perspective, it is an important fish species.…”