Abstract
The Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to study the genetic diversity of four Elops machnata populations in South India. Elops machnata is considered as a least concern species (LC), categorized by the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN). The population trends are currently stable in Indian Ocean, Eastern Africa, but are unknown throughout the rest of its expansive range, especially in Indian estuaries. Among the ten RAPD primers tested, eight primers got amplified and gave scorable bands. In total, 119 scorable bands were observed in all populations. The overall observed and effective number of alleles was found to be 2.000 ± 0.000 and 1.5307 ± 0.2503 respectively for the entire population. The overall polymorphic loci were 61.00% and the overall gene flow among the four populations was predicted to 0.1032. The genetic distance and geographic distance between the four populations showed a positive correlation. The highest genetic similarity (0.6824) was found between Parangipettai and Muthupettai population, which reflected the geographical relationship between them. Tow main clusters were obtained based on UPGMA dendrogram. This study proves that RAPD analysis has the ability to discriminate E. machnata populations in South Indian coastal waters.
Highlights
Elops machnata, called ladyfish, is found in marine or brackish water with wide distribution especially in tropical regions in Indo-West Pacific
The genomic DNA was isolated from E. machnata from four populations that have shown shown clear bands in 0.8% agarose gel electrophoresis
Sample collection E. machnata finclips were collected from Marakanam, Parangipettai, Muthupettai and Cochin along both east and west coasts of South India
Summary
Called ladyfish, is found in marine or brackish water with wide distribution especially in tropical regions in Indo-West Pacific. E. machnata’s early life stages use estuary and lagoonal habitats, which are prone to anthropogenic alterations but this species exhibits a broad range of habitat plasticity (Adams et al, 2012). A number of questions remain unanswered regarding to their taxonomic uncertainty, population status, fisheries interactions and potential threats in the eastern part of its range. Results of the study done by Mwandya et al (2009) indicate that mangrove habitat loss and changes in environmental conditions appeared. These changes were caused by salt farm developments which decreased fish density, biomass and number of species, as well as alter overall fish assemblage composition in the salt farm area. The unknown extent of commercial fisheries and the magnitude of harvest mean a potential threat to this species
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