The Gomti River is a vital tributary of the largest Gangetic Riverine system, flowing in the northern part of Uttar Pradesh, India. This habitat serves as one of India's most precious repository for fish genetic resources (FGR), contributing significantly to regional biodiversity, and is a source of livelihood. It has diverse climatic conditions, which have led to a distinctive fish community structure and the presence of native species. The application of DNA barcoding for assessing FGR in the north Himalayan region, particularly in UP, presents a notable research gap. This study established the first DNA barcodes of voucher specimens identified through classical taxonomy, creating a molecular catalogue of commercially important fish species. DNA barcoding was accomplished using the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene (COI) for species identification and phylogenetic analysis. We identified 37 commercially important fish species (34 native k₂ = 26.98; R = 3.09). Our dataset comprised 110 COI nucleotide sequences with 592 positions in the final alignment, including 236 polymorphic sites and 39 distinct haplotypes. We also estimated haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.975) and nucleotide diversity (π = 0.194). Our findings highlighted that efficacy of traditional taxonomy and DNA barcoding method (also known as integrative taxonomy) is complementary to each other for identifying and authenticating fish taxa. Additionally, the developed COI library will be valuable for future environmental DNA (eDNA) studies for detecting indigenous and exotic fish species and useful for nature conservation. We conclude that it serves as an effective tool for sustainable conservation, fishery management, and future monitoring of freshwater fish genetic resources.
Mahender Singh (Fri,) studied this question.