Molecular characterization and phylogenetics of Indian polychaete fauna: scope for implementation in ecological monitoring
2019
Vijapure, Tejal | Sukumaran, Soniya | Manohar, Cathrine S.
DNA barcodes are increasingly applied to ascertain the taxonomic identification to improve the speed and accuracy of ecological monitoring programmes. The success of integrating molecular approach in routine surveys ultimately depends on the coverage of reference libraries that require constant upgradation. The present molecular study was aimed at strengthening the genetic database of Polychaeta, which at present is poorly constructed. The current effort is first of its kind that covered a large geographical area along the northwest India. The study has contributed in building a comprehensive COI database of polychaete taxocene that included new records of one family, four genera and six species. The phylogenetic analysis revealed presence of 19 distinct clades, each comprising of individual family with studied polychaete species and conspecific/congeneric reference sequences. This is the first analysis that revealed a close relationship between Longosomatidae and Cirratulidae, rather than Spioniform polychaetes. Thus, the phylogenetic information was useful in distinguishing the polychaete species in the study region. Molecular analysis also facilitated the identification of potentially new Streblospio sp. that displayed close morphological as well as genetic affinity with S. gynobranchiata, with an inter-specific distance of 0.11. The present study proves the effectiveness of molecular characterization and phylogenetics in delineating the Indian polychaete species complex for ecological monitoring. The reference database can aid the high-throughput biomonitoring programmes in future.
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