What ancient DNA reveals about the ubiquitous rockfish of the Pacific Coast of North America

Approximately 100 rockfish species are found in the North Pacific Ocean (Orr and Hawkins 2008), and typically these can only be identified archaeologically to the genus level, Sebastes. Recent ancient DNA (aDNA) study of rockfish from Coffman Cove, Alaska, has identified eight rockfish species. Drawing from the life history and habitat preferences of each species, these new data shed light on Tlingit fishing practices and technologies. The aDNA results also expose a high proportion of misidentifications demonstrating the hazards of identifying rockfish morphologically. Some misidentifications are illustrated here to demonstrate morphological overlap between rockfishes and sculpins, as a cautionary tale for future investigations. This study should prompt more examination of the ubiquity and use of sculpins, a group of fish that have been seriously neglected in studies of the fisheries of the northeast Pacific Ocean. The larger goal of this research is to understand the historical ecologies of rockfish species, with special attention to those long-lived species that are especially vulnerable to overfishing along the Pacific Coast.

Automated summary

This study used ancient DNA analysis to identify eight rockfish species in Coffman Cove, Alaska, shedding light on Tlingit fishing practices and the potential misidentifications in morphological identification. The study also emphasizes the importance of studying sculpins and understanding the historical ecology of long-lived rockfish species vulnerable to overfishing along the Pacific Coast.