Authors : Sylvanus Anene Nwafili, Tianxiang Gao and B.D. Olaosebikan
Abstract: In this study, partial sequences of D-loop and 16S rRNA mitochondrial genes were analyzed to genetically characterise 2 Epiplatys species discovered in riparian streams in Kainji Lake Nigeria. Sequence analyses of both genes show Jebba population to be more distantly separated from the Monai and Shagwa populations of Epiplatys bifasciatus. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, Kimura 2-parameter distance between E. biifasciatus and E. spilargyrieus the ranged from 0.0921-0.0946. Kimura 2 parameter also showed that Epiplatys roloffi (U73241) was genetically closer to E. spilargyrieus (K2P = 0.074) than to E. bifasciatus. The Neighbour-Joining tree showed that the Epiplatys bifasciatus from each stream clustered together except for those of Monai and shagwa, which formed a single clade.
Sylvanus Anene Nwafili, Tianxiang Gao and B.D. Olaosebikan, 2009. mtDNA Diversity among Remnant Populations of Two Epiplatys Species in Kainji Lake Basin Inferred from D-loop and 16SrRNA Gene Sequences. Journal of Fisheries International, 4: 40-44.