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Phylogenetic analysis of
anemone fishes of the Persian Gulf using mtDNA sequences
Ghorashi, S. A.1,2*,
Fatemi, S. M.1, Amini, F.³, Houshmand, M.2, Salehi Tabar,
R.2 and Hazaie, K.1
1Department of Marine Biology, Islamic Azad University, Science and
Research Branch, Hesarak, Tehran, Iran.
2Department of Microbiology, National Institute of Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology, Pajouhesh BLV, Tehran, Iran.
³Aquatic
Animals Health and Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
alig@nigeb.ac.ir.
Accepted
4 April, 2008 |
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Anemone
fishes are a group of 28 species of coral reef fishes
belonging to the family, Pomacentridae; subfamily,
Amphiprioninae and all have an obligate symbiotic
relationship with sea anemones. Two species of these small
ornamental fishes have been identified in the Persian Gulf
including Amphiprion clarkii and Amphiprion sebae.
The phylogenetic relationship between Amphiprion
species of the Persian Gulf was studied by collecting 15
samples from three Iranian islands, Larak, Farur and Kish.
DNA was extracted from each sample and a part of mtDNA was
amplified. Two pairs of primers were designed to amplify a
final target of 400 bp by nested-PCR. Each amplican was
sequenced, aligned and genetic diversity among samples was
investigated by phylogenetic analysis. Results show that
there is no significant genetic variation among A.
clarkii individuals; however, A. sebae
individuals from Larak were different from other fishes of
the same species. Most probably this is due to the ability
of A. clarkii to be symbiotant with all 10 species of
host sea anemones which enables it to spread its own
population in the 3 islands. However, A. sebae is
observed to be symbiotant only with one host in the sea,
therefore, has one option that reduces its distribution.
Key
words:
Amphiprion,
mtDNA, Persian Gulf, phylogeny. |
