New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Verifying invasive marine fish species using molecular techniques: a model example using triplefin fishes (Family Tripterygiidae)

Anthony J. R. Hickey
Shane D. Lavery
Sarah R. Eyton
Kendall D. Clements*

School of Biological Sciences
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92 019
Auckland, New Zealand
email: k.clements@auckland.ac.nz

*Author for correspondence.

Abstract  Molecular techniques can resolve many questions concerning the identification and origins of invasive marine species. We used a molecular taxonomy based on the mitochondrial control region (mtCR) to identify the origin of three cryptogenic triplefin species (Family: Tripterygiidae) found in two Australian ports-Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne and the Derwent Estuary, Hobart. DNA was extracted from Australian specimens of Forsterygion varium, F. lapillum, and Grahamina gymnota, and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) fragments of the mitochondrial control region (mtCR, c. 400 bp) were amplified, sequenced, and aligned to a reference alignment containing 23 endemic New Zealand triplefin species. Multiple specimens were sequenced for Australian F. varium, and G. gymnota, and the sequences were aligned to data sets from conspecific specimens collected around New Zealand. The sequences from Australian specimens of F. varium and G. gymnota consisted of only one and two haplotypes, respectively. Haplotypes of all three Australian species nested among New Zealand conspecific haplotypes, and the single Australian F. varium haplotype was shared with two southern New Zealand individuals. The low genetic diversity in two of the Australian triplefin populations of F. varium and G. gymnota and their close genetic relationship to New Zealand populations strongly suggests recent introductions from New Zealand to Australia.

Keywords  triplefins; invasive species; mitochondrial control region; Forsterygion; Grahamina

M03073; Received 30 October 2003; accepted 23 January 2004; Online publication date 3 August 2004
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2004, Vol. 38: 439-446
0028-8330/04/3803-0439 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004

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