DNA barcoding of fish eggs collected off northwestern Cuba and across the Florida Straits demonstrates egg transport by mesoscale eddies

Abstract

Identifying spawning sites for broadcast spawning fish species is a key element of delineating critical habitat for managing and regulating marine fisheries. Genetic barcoding has enabled accurate taxonomic identification of individual fish eggs, overcoming limitations of morphological classification techniques. In this study, planktonic fish eggs were collected at 23 stations along the northwestern coast of Cuba and across the Florida Straits to United States waters. A total of 564 fish eggs were successfully identified to 89 taxa within 30 families, with the majority of taxa resolved to species. We provide new spawning information for Luvarus imperialis (Louvar), Bothus lunatus (Plate Fish), Eumegistus illustris (Brilliant Pomfret), and many economically important species. Data from most sites supported previously established patterns of eggs from neritic fish species being found on continental shelves and oceanic species spawning over deeper waters. However, some sites deviated from this pattern, with eggs from reef‐associated fish species detected in the deep waters of the Florida Straits and pelagic species detected in the shallow, continental shelf waters off the coast of northwestern Cuba. Further investigation using satellite imagery revealed the presence of a mesoscale cyclonic eddy that likely entrained neritic fish eggs and transported them into the Florida Straits. The technique of combining DNA‐based fish egg identification with remotely‐sensed hydrodynamics provides an important new tool for assessing the interplay of regional oceanography with fish spawning strategies.

DNA barcoding reveals the temporal community composition of drifting fish eggs in the lower Hongshui River, China

“…DNA barcoding, which delimits species based on a segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), has been widely used to identify fish eggs (Chen et al., 2021 ; Hofmann et al., 2017 ; Hou et al., 2020 ; Kerr & Breitbart, 2021 ; Kerr et al., 2020 ; Leyva‐Cruz et al., 2016 ). For example, Leyva‐Cruz et al.…”

“…Similarly, Kerr et al. ( 2020 ) used DNA barcoding to identify fish eggs collected from northwestern Cuba and across the Florida Straits, assigning 564 fish eggs to 89 species. Therefore, it has been demonstrated that DNA barcoding can effectively identity fish eggs to species.…”

“…DNA barcoding, which delimits species based on a segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), has been widely used to identify fish eggs (Chen et al, 2021;Hofmann et al, 2017;Hou et al, 2020;Kerr & Breitbart, 2021;Kerr et al, 2020;Leyva-Cruz et al, 2016). For example, Leyva-Cruz et al (2016) collected 300 fish eggs from waters surrounding Banco Chinchorro in the Mexican Caribbean and assigned the eggs to 42 species using DNA barcoding.…”

“…For example, Leyva-Cruz et al (2016) collected 300 fish eggs from waters surrounding Banco Chinchorro in the Mexican Caribbean and assigned the eggs to 42 species using DNA barcoding. Similarly, Kerr et al (2020) used DNA barcoding to identify fish eggs collected from northwestern Cuba and across the Florida Straits, assigning 564 fish eggs to 89 species. Therefore, it has been demonstrated that DNA barcoding can effectively identity fish eggs to species.…”

DNA Detectives: Outreach Activity Teaching Students to Identify Fish Eggs Using DNA Barcoding †

“…Once the plankton sample is taken back to the lab, fish eggs are picked out from the wide variety of planktonic organisms using microscopes and forceps ( 5 ). Since fish eggs are usually clear spheres with few distinguishable characteristics, accurate visual identification of the species is difficult and often unreliable ( 6 ), leading scientists to use DNA barcoding to identify the eggs down to species level.…”