State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian Province, China.
State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian Province, China.
Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2018 Apr;121:46-51. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2017.12.031. Epub 2017 Dec 30.
Groupers (family Epinephelidae) are an assemblage of coral reef fishes comprising more than 160 species in 16 genera, many of which are both environmentally and economically valuable. Because of their similar morphology, variable color patterns, and tendency for interspecies hybridization, morphological identification of groupers usually leads to taxonomic confusion. To find an effective method for identifying different grouper species and hybrids, evaluate genetic diversity and uncover any synonymous or cryptic species, we sampled a total of 221 specimens representing 57 species in 9 genera in the China Seas. Both mitochondrial (mt) cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) were found to be effective barcoding genes. We also developed an efficient protocol for identifying hybrid groupers using mt markers and the nuclear RYR3 gene and found the first record of wide interspecies hybridization in genus Epinephelus. This barcoding study revealed high genetic divergence in many widespread species and possible synonyms. In addition to providing a molecular method for identifying grouper species, this study offers important resources for the further study of grouper conservation genetics, speciation, hybridization and other evolutionary traits.
石斑鱼（Epinephelidae 科）是一个由超过 160 种鱼类组成的珊瑚礁鱼类集合，这些鱼类分属于 16 个属，其中许多具有环境和经济价值。由于它们具有相似的形态、多变的颜色图案和种间杂交的倾向，因此形态识别通常会导致分类混淆。为了找到一种有效的方法来识别不同的石斑鱼物种和杂种，评估遗传多样性并揭示任何同义或隐匿种，我们在中国海域共采集了 221 个代表 9 个属 57 个种的样本。结果发现线粒体（mt）细胞色素氧化酶亚基 I（COI）和 NADH 脱氢酶亚基 2（ND2）都是有效的条形码基因。我们还开发了一种使用 mt 标记和核 RYR3 基因识别杂种石斑鱼的有效方法，并发现了 Epinephelus 属中首次广泛的种间杂交记录。这项条形码研究揭示了许多广泛分布的物种存在高度的遗传分化和可能的同义种。除了提供一种识别石斑鱼物种的分子方法外，本研究还为进一步研究石斑鱼保护遗传学、物种形成、杂交和其他进化特征提供了重要资源。
