DNA barcoding of three species (Canis aureus, Canis lupus and Vulpes vulpes) of Canidae

Abstract

Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene have been used for DNA barcoding and determining the genetic diversity of mammal species. In the current study, our intention was to test the validity of COI barcodes for detecting genetic divergence and to reveal whether or not there is a genetic variation at this marker within canids. Three species (Canis aureus, Canis lupus and Vulpes vulpes) from the family Canidae were selected for DNA barcoding using samples collected from Iran and Turkey. All three species had unique barcoding sequences and none of the sequences were shared among these species. The mean sequence divergences within and among the species were 0.61% and 12.32%, respectively, which fell into the mean divergence ranges found in some mammal groups. The genetic diversity of these three canid species was relatively higher than that found in previously reported studies.

Keywords:

• COI
• DNA barcoding
• Canidae
• Iran
• Turkey

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Ahmet Yesari Selçuk, Vedat Çadır and Taşkın Tez for their assistance in collecting the samples, and Donna Sue Özcan and Dr. Klaus-Peter Koepfli for editing and improving English.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Funding information

This study was supported by the research fund of Erciyes University (Project nr: FYL-2014-5454) and partly by the research fund (grant) of the University of Zanjan.