Differentiation of coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus) based on an analysis of morphology and complete mitochondrial DNA: Are cryptic species present?  

作　　者：CAI Xiaopeng QU Meng DING Shaoxiong WANG Hangjun WANG Hongjie HU Luyi SU Yongquan 

机构地区：[1]State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Science, Xiamen University [2]Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Swingle Hall, Auburn University

出　　处：《Acta Oceanologica Sinica》2013年第6期40-46,共7页海洋学报（英文版）

基　　金：Key Program of the Science and Technology Department Foundation of Fujian Province under contract No.2007N0050;the Seed Industry Innovation and Industrialization Project of Fujian Province,China(on the subtopic of groupers)

摘　　要：Two morphotypes of Plectropomus leopardus have been identified; morphometric and meristic analyses show that there is no diagnostic difference between them. A difference in color pattern was the most ap- propriate phenotypic character with which to distinguish between the two morphotypes. Complete mito- chondrial DNA sequencing, however, indicated a clear difference between the two morphotypes. Barcoding analysis revealed no significant difference （P〉0.05） in CO1 or ND2 divergence among intramorphotypic individuals, even between geographically separated populations, whereas the intermorphotypic CO1 and ND2 divergences were large enough （averaging 0.95% for CO1 and 1.37% for ND2） to clearly discriminate between the two morphotypes. The color pattern difference, geographical distribution, together with the mtDNA and barcode sequencing data, suggest that the two morphotypes should be of two subspecies or even two species.Two morphotypes of Plectropomus leopardus have been identified; morphometric and meristic analyses show that there is no diagnostic difference between them. A difference in color pattern was the most ap- propriate phenotypic character with which to distinguish between the two morphotypes. Complete mito- chondrial DNA sequencing, however, indicated a clear difference between the two morphotypes. Barcoding analysis revealed no significant difference （P〉0.05） in CO1 or ND2 divergence among intramorphotypic individuals, even between geographically separated populations, whereas the intermorphotypic CO1 and ND2 divergences were large enough （averaging 0.95% for CO1 and 1.37% for ND2） to clearly discriminate between the two morphotypes. The color pattern difference, geographical distribution, together with the mtDNA and barcode sequencing data, suggest that the two morphotypes should be of two subspecies or even two species.

关 键 词：Plectropomus leopardus MORPHOTYPE omplete mitochondrial DNA BARCODING 

分 类 号：Q958.8[生物学—动物学]