Increasing reference databases for dna barcoding and metabarcoding of marine fish

Abstract

Current methods for biomonitoring marine environments are aggressive, costly and time-consuming. DNA barcoding and metabarcoding offers a more accurate solution to this framework, but for this to be implemented, reliable reference sequences need to be available. The present study aimed to complete the reference database for metabarcoding studies. From an original list of 141 marine fish individuals, a total of 50 fish species were barcoded by PCR amplification of the 12s rRNA gene and sanger sequencing. A genetic analysis was additionally performed. Sequences are submitted to public access. Overall, DNA barcoding has shown to be a means by which marine resources could be surveyed without causing any negative impact.