DNA-BASED FISH EGG IDENTIFICATION STUDY FOR SPAWNING ECOLOGY OF FISH OFF TONGYEONG, SOUTH SEA OF KOREA

Abstract

The fish egg identification is fundamental to study on spawning ecology of fish. Spawning ground and season of fish can be estimated accurately from occurrence information of fish eggs when identified. In order to analysis spawning ecology of fish, fish eggs distributed near Tongyeong MRC were collected in May and August, 2012. 16SrDNA of mtDNA was an identification marker for the fish eggs. The 16SrDNA sequences from the fish eggs were acquired by Sanger method for single egg specimens and pyrosequencing for mixed egg ones. Based on the sequence of 16SrDNA, total of 12 taxa were identified 10 species into the species level, 2 species into the genus level. The number of species in May and August were 6 and 8, respectively. Two common species such as Engraulis japonicus and Tarphops elegans appeared both in May and August. Four species including Konisorus punctatus and Pagrus major occurred in May, and 6 species including Scorpaenoidei sp., Halichoeres tenuispinis, and Seriola dumerili occurred in August. Based on the fish egg composition, we could get the baseline of spawning ecology of each species.of fish, fish eggs distributed near Tongyeong MRC were collected in May and August, 2012. 16SrDNA of mtDNA was an identification marker for the fish eggs. The 16SrDNA sequences from the fish eggs were acquired by Sanger method for single egg specimens and pyrosequencing for mixed egg ones. Based on the sequence of 16SrDNA, total of 12 taxa were identified 10 species into the species level, 2 species into the genus level. The number of species in May and August were 6 and 8, respectively. Two common species such as Engraulis japonicus and Tarphops elegans appeared both in May and August. Four species including Konisorus punctatus and Pagrus major occurred in May, and 6 species including Scorpaenoidei sp., Halichoeres tenuispinis, and Seriola dumerili occurred in August. Based on the fish egg composition, we could get the baseline of spawning ecology of each species.