37%

35%

8%

7%

6%4%

2% 1%Arthropoda (phylum)

Mollusca (phylum)

Cnidaria (phylum)

Echinodermata (phylum)

Chordata (phylum)

Annelida (phylum)

Bryozoa (phylum)

4 others (phylum)

SEAKEYS: unlocking foundational marine biodiversity

knowledge in South Africa using DNA barcoding1,2Monica Mwale, 2G. Gouws, 3J Landschoff, 3JA Toms, 3CL Griffiths and 4K. Sink

1National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, PO BOX 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. 2South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, P/Bag 105, Grahamstown, South Africa

3Zoology Department, Marine Biology Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa4South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa

783

ABSTRACT

The information on the biodiversity of most southern African marine ecosystems is limited1. The development of comprehensive databases is

therefore critical to support the effective monitoring of marine ecosystems and species for the implementation of evidence-based policy and

conservation management for sustainable use. The SEAKEYS project funded by the DST/NRF/SANBI Foundational Biodiversity Knowledge and

Information research funding Programme (FBIP) therefore aims to unlock fundamental biodiversity information using DNA barcoding to generate

species records and distribution databases for priority ecosystems and groups.

Funding Sources/Acknowledgements

1. DST/NRF/SANBI Foundational Biodiversity Knowledge

2. Dr Kerry Sink – SANBI

3. Yonela Sithole (MSc)

4. BOLD team

5. IZIKO museums

To describe and undertake associated genetic (DNA barcoding),

systematic and ecological research for;

Priority taxa: harvested, habitat forming, indicator, threatened and

potentially invasive species.

Priority ecosystems: with key ecosystem services and those that are

particularly sensitive to fishing, mining and other impacts.

The research aims to support biodiversity assessments and evidence-

based decision making and effective marine biodiversity.

References

1. Branch GM, Griffiths CL, Branch ML, Beckley LE. 1994. Two Oceans: A Guide to the

Marine Life of Southern Africa. David Phillip Publishers (Pty) Ltd, South Africa, pp 1-456

2. Reece JS. 2010. Phylogenetics and phylogeography of moray eels (Muraenidae). PhD

thesis, Washing University, St. Louis, pp 1-112.

3. Reece JS, Bowen BW, Smith DG, Larson A. 2010a. Molecular phylogenetics of moray

eels (Muraenidae) demonstrates multiple origins of a shell-crushing jaw (Gymnomuraena,

Echidna) and multiple colonizations of the Atlantic Ocean. Molecular Phylogenetics and

Evolution 57: 829-835.

4. Castle PHJ, McCosker JE. 1986. Family Muraenidae. In: Smith MM, Heemstra PC (eds),

Smiths’ Sea Fishes. MacMillan, South Africa, pp 165-176.

RESULTS

DNA barcodes of 573 specimens of coastal marine fishes and

invertebrates from 128 nominal species

Collected from the cool-temperate, warm-temperate and sub-tropical

bioregions and offshore (Agulhas Bank) in South Africa, mascarene

plateau and Inhaca Island in southern Mozambique.

These specimens included invasive, commercially important, rare,

threatened and endangered species. Average COI sequence

divergences within species, genera and families were moderate to high

at 1.76%, 20.0% and 23.5% respectively.

The barcode-gap analysis indicated that 14 species were indistinct,

while 23 had high intraspecific distances (>2%) due to either deep

divergences or cryptic speciation.

An additional 12 species had very low interspecific variation suggesting

misidentifications or a need for taxonomic evaluation.

The 138 Barcode Index Numbers (BIN) identified included 93

concordant assignments.

17 singletons specimens that will require more sampling for

species verification.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

Figure 1: Summary of taxa analysed from SeaKeys project.

Graph show diversity among fishes (e.g. endemic species of

Cafforgobius).

High levels of genetic variation

Taxonomically discordant BINS (28) with good sample sizes (5-65

samples) were re-analysed and corrected using the DNA barcode.

Example: Genetic variation of Gymnothorax undulatus

(Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) in the WIO

G. undulatus is an Indo-Pacific species defined by presence of

irregular brown rectangular spots with reticulated pattern1,2,4

Taxonomic status is unclear and the species is highly misidentified

and confused with other Indo-Pacific species3,4.

This was observed in both DNA barcode data and morphological

analysis.

Southern African marine taxa are very

diverse, with more species to be discovered.

BINs are higher than the number of

identified species.

The vouchered specimens from this study will

be critical in linking all new and unclear BIN

clusters to species and new descriptions.

Thus more holotype and type locality

barcodes will become vital.

Barcodes consistent with good morphological

identifications for species.

Therefore, this project will contribute towards

the estimation of marine biodiversity in South

Africa.

Figure 2: DNA barcoding (COI) ML tree and WIO colour

morphs of G. undulatus in the WIO (Top: South Africa, Middle:

Seychelles, Bottom: FISHBASE distribution map.

SIGNIFICANCE

Email: monicam@nzg.ac.za

GG07-A080 G. undulatus SA

HM09-091 Gymnothorax sp. SA

GG07-A079 G. undulatus SA

GG07-A088 G. undulatus SA

GG07-A089 G. undulatus SA

HM09-064 G. undulatus SA

Smith-41.24 1 G. undulatus SA

HM09-065 G. undulatus SA

Clade 2

T-355 G. griseus

T-453 G. chilospilus

KNY2011/164 Gymnothorax sp. EA

RB09-144 Gymnothorax sp. Moz

RB09-104 Gymnothorax sp. Moz

DB11-103 G. undulatus SA

T-341 G. rueppellii

T-340 G. rueppellii

MAL226 G. undulatus Arc

LS07-0793 G. undulatus EA

LS07-0638 G. undulatus EA

T-346 G. undulatus Sey

T-421 G. undulatus Sey

T-422 G. undulatus Sey

Clade 1

CB10-351 Gymnothorax sp. EA

GG07-A050 G. flavimarginatus

RB10-A014 G. flavimarginatus

JX242970 G. flavimarginatus

JX242970 G. flavimarginatus

AB695709 G. undulatus Jap

AB695707 G. undulatus Jap

AB695708 G. undulatus Jap

Clade 3

AB695653 G. thyrsoideus

AB695651 G. thyrsoideus

AB695652 G. thyrsoideus

JX242971 G. fuscomaculatus

JX242968 G. chilospilus

AB695696 G. chilospilus

AB695695 G. chilospilus

AB695694 G. chilospilus

AB695649 G. pictus

AB695650 G. pictus

AB695648 G. pictus

JX242976 G. pictus

AB702979 S. tigrina

AB702972 S. tigrina

AB702973 S. tigrina

AB702976 S. tigrina92

100

100

100

100

95

100

100

100

88

100

99

87

100

98

85100

100

99

0.02

Clade 2

Clade 2

Clade 3