Barcoding nemo: DNA-based identifications for the ornamental fish trade.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Trade in ornamental fishes represents, by far, the largest route for the importation of exotic vertebrates. There is growing pressure to regulate this trade with the goal of ensuring that species are sustainably harvested and that their point of origin is accurately reported. One important element of such regulation involves easy access to specimen identifications, a task that is currently difficult for all but specialists because of the large number of species involved. The present study represents an important first step in making identifications more accessible by assembling a DNA barcode reference sequence library for nearly half of the ornamental fish species imported into North America.

Methodology/principal findings

Analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subu

SUBMITTER: Steinke D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2708913 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature