Evaluating the accuracy of morphological identification of larval fishes by applying DNA barcoding.

ABSTRACT: Due to insufficient morphological diagnostic characters in larval fishes, it is easy to misidentify them and difficult to key to the genus or species level. The identification results from different laboratories are often inconsistent. This experiment aims to find out, by applying DNA barcoding, how inconsistent the identifications can be among larval fish taxonomists. One hundred morphotypes of larval fishes were chosen as test specimens. The fishes were collected with either larval fish nets or light traps in the northern, southern and northwestern waters of Taiwan. After their body lengths (SL) were measured and specimen photos were taken, all specimens were delivered, in turn, to five laboratories (A-E) in Taiwan to be identified independently. When all the results were collected, thes

SUBMITTER: Ko HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3561387 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature