INVERTEBRATE SURVIVAL JOURNAL, vol.17, pp.30, 2020 (SCI-Expanded)
There are nearly 3000 Ascidian species identified and they are all found in seas. However, the studies on tunicates on Turkish coasts are limited; thus, not much known about the ascidian fauna of Turkish Seas. In this study, presence of the Botrylloides anceps (Herdman, 1891) species along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey has been proven by application of DNA barcoding tool for the first time. Sampling was performed in coastal area of the Hatay-Konacık region on 26 September 2018. Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) and nuclear H3 genes were used for identification. Although B. anceps were observed in Israel, Australia, India, Brazil and Japan, only Israel and Australia provided gene sequences to the database. In the present study, one B. anceps (Israel) species haplotype data was obtained from the Genebank to compare with the present study sample. Phylogeographic resolution of these 2 haplotypes was investigated by using NETWORK software. Five mutation steps differences were observed between present study and previously studied (in Israel) B.anceps sample for COI gene and four for H3 gene. This study is a very first record in terms of using DNA barcoding tool on the B. anceps identification for the sample that was collected in Turkish Seas.