Genetic Variation and Phylogenetic Relationship among four Parrotfishes (genus Scarus) in Hurghada, Red Sea Coast, Egypt Based on RAPD Markers

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biology, Zoology Department Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt

Abstract

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprints were obtained for 4 Parrotfishes (genus Scarus) namely, Scarus collana Rüppell 1835; Scarus frenatus Lacepède 1802; Scarus (Chlorurus) sordidus Forsskål 1775 andScarus niger Forsskål 1775 using RAPD-PCR typing technique. A total of 111 bands (ranging from 200 to 2000 base pair) were produced, 13 monomorphic (common) and 98 polymorphic (88.29% level of polymorphism). The Scarus frenatus recorded highest band frequencies among studied species. Under phenetic approaches "clustering using unweighted pair group method average (UPGMA) based on Nei-72 genetic distance, principal coordinate analysis (PCOA), and neighbour joining (NJ) based on pairwise mean character differences", the studied scarids formed two groups as sister taxa and most likely to have the most common ancestor. There is a close genetic relatedness among group members [Scarus collana/Scarus niger and Scarus frenatus/Scarus sordidus]. According to parsimony (Cladistic) analysis, RAPD markers obtained are reliable and phylogenetically instructive. The  four parrotfishes are related, but S. frenatus, S. sordidus, and S. niger have a close evolutionary relationships. Splitting of Scarus collana as basal group suggested a common ancestor having unique features (synapomorphies) be inherited in the studied parrotfishes. This study’s results possibly provide useful information about the genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships among parrotfishes.

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