Species identification of larval fish in Hawaiian waters using DNA barcoding

Background: Correct identification of fish larvae is notably difficult, given that the morphological features at this stage of development are often poorly defined. However, obtaining such taxonomic information is of considerable importance from the perspectives of fisheries management and conservation. Results: In this study, we collected a total of 95 specimens of larval fish from Hawaiian waters, which we sought to identify using DNA barcoding based on mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences. Among these, 40 and 52 samples were accordingly identified to the species and genus levels, respectively. The determined average Kimura-2-parameter distances within species, genera, families, and orders were 0.72%, 25.99%, 26.30%, and 27.50%, respectively, and the mean interspecific distance was found to be 36-fold higher than the mean intraspecific distance. Conclusions: The results of this study provide convincing evidence that DNA barcoding can serve as an effective tool for the accurate species identification of larval fish in Hawaiian waters, and could thereby make a valuable contribution to species diversity surveys. The findings of this study can make a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the diversity and dispersal of larval fish in Hawaiian waters.