DNA Barcoding and Phylogenetic Study as a Modern Taxonomical Tool for Identifying Commercial Catch along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast, Alexandria

Abstract

Sustainable fisheries management and biodiversity conservation rely heavily on precisely identifying commercial fish species. Although morphological taxonomy is generally beneficial, it is frequently inadequate when clarifying uncertainties related to identifying species, particularly in specimens that are juveniles or have been treated. DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis were intended to be validated as modern, dependable taxonomic techniques for identifying commercial fish species. Four fish species (Dicentrarchus labrax, Mullus surmuletus, Seriola dumerili, and Sparus aurata) were obtained from frequent commercial fish landings along the Egyptian coastline of the Mediterranean Sea in Alexanderia that underwent DNA barcoding for identification. The investigated species were successfully identified using COI barcoding. Additionally, an accurate representation of established taxonomic connections was achieved through further phylogenetic analysis, which utilized the Tamura-Nei model and the neighbor-joining method to generate a tree with a strong bootstrap support. In conclusion, for the monitoring of commercial fisheries, the present research findings significantly confirmed the effeciency application of genetic approaches to species identification and highlighted their capacity to supplement or surpass conventional methods. In addition to enhancing our comprehension of species variety and evolutionary biology, the integration of DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis helps identify species more accurately.