Identification of Rays through DNA Barcoding: An Application for Ecologists

F. Cerutti-Pereyra; M.G. Meekan; N-W.V. Wei; O. O'Shea; C.J.A. Bradshaw; C.M. Austin

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036479

Back

Identification of Rays through DNA Barcoding: An Application for Ecologists

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Identification of Rays through DNA Barcoding: An Application for Ecologists

F. Cerutti-Pereyra, M.G. Meekan, N-W.V. Wei, O. O'Shea, C.J.A. Bradshaw and C.M. Austin

PLoS ONE, Vol.7(6), e36479

2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0036479

Files and links (2)

pdf

identification_of_rays.pdfDownload View

Published (Version of Record) Open Access

url

Free to Read *No subscription requiredView

Abstract

DNA barcoding potentially offers scientists who are not expert taxonomists a powerful tool to support the accuracy of field studies involving taxa that are diverse and difficult to identify. The taxonomy of rays has received reasonable attention in Australia, although the fauna in remote locations such as Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia is poorly studied and the identification of some species in the field is problematic. Here, we report an application of DNA-barcoding to the identification of 16 species (from 10 genera) of tropical rays as part of an ecological study. Analysis of the dataset combined across all samples grouped sequences into clearly defined operational taxonomic units, with two conspicuous exceptions: the Neotrygon kuhlii species complex and the Aetobatus species complex. In the field, the group that presented the most difficulties for identification was the spotted whiptail rays, referred to as the 'uarnak' complex. Two sets of problems limited the successful application of DNA barcoding: (1) the presence of cryptic species, species complexes with unresolved taxonomic status and intra-specific geographical variation, and (2) insufficient numbers of entries in online databases that have been verified taxonomically, and the presence of lodged sequences in databases with inconsistent names. Nevertheless, we demonstrate the potential of the DNA barcoding approach to confirm field identifications and to highlight species complexes where taxonomic uncertainty might confound ecological data.

Details

Title: Identification of Rays through DNA Barcoding: An Application for Ecologists
Authors/Creators: F. Cerutti-Pereyra (Author/Creator) - Charles Darwin University
M.G. Meekan (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
N-W.V. Wei (Author/Creator) - Charles Darwin University
O. O'Shea (Author/Creator)
C.J.A. Bradshaw (Author/Creator) - South Australian Research and Development Institute
C.M. Austin (Author/Creator) - Monash University Malaysia
Publication Details: PLoS ONE, Vol.7(6), e36479
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Identifiers: 991005540467407891
Copyright: © 2012 Cerutti-Pereyra et al
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites

Metrics

244 File views/ downloads

64 Record Views

65 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.92 Fisheries Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Marine & Freshwater Biology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science