A complement to DNA barcoding reference library for identification of fish from the Northeast Pacific

The seas of the North Pacific Ocean are characterized by a large variety of fish fauna, including endemic species. Molecular genetic methods, often based on DNA barcoding approaches, have been recently used to determine species boundaries and identify cryptic diversity within these species. This study complements the DNA barcode library of fish from the Northeast Pacific area. A library based on 154 sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene from 44 species was assembled and analyzed. It was found that 39 species (89%) can be unambiguously identified by the clear thresholds forming a barcoding gap. Deviations from the standard 2% threshold value resulted in detection of the species Enophrys lucasi in the sample, which is not typical for the eastern part of the Bering Sea. This barcoding gap also made it possible to identify naturally occurring low values of interspecific divergence of eulittoral taxa Aspidophoroides and the deep-sea genus Coryphaenoides. Synonymy of the genus Albatrossia in favor of the genus Coryphaenoides is suggested based on both the original and previously published data.

Automated summary

The study used DNA barcoding methods to analyze fish species in the North Pacific Ocean, revealing hidden species diversity and providing important insights for species identification and research in fish.