Phylogenetic analysis of Luciobarbus Heckel, 1843 and Barbus Cuvier & Cloquet, 1816 species in the Euphrates River (Turkey) based on mtDNA COI gene sequences

Natural fish species living in the Euphrates River System; It is subject to some pressures such as overfishing, competition with invasive species and habitat loss. As a result of these pressures, it leads to the decrease of endemic and native species. At the beginning of these species are the species belonging to the Barbus Cuvier & Cloquet, 1816 and Luciobarbus Heckel, 1843 genera, which have high economic importance. In this study, phylogenetic analysis of the species belonging to the genus Barbus Cuvier & Cloquet, 1816 and Luciobarbus Heckel, 1843, which live naturally in the Euphrates River, was carried out with mtDNA COI gene sequences. 17 fish samples belonging to five species from three localities belonging to the Euphrates river system (Turkey) were studied. Total DNA extraction was performed from muscle tissue using Commercial Kit. Then the mtDNA COI region was amplified by PCR and sequenced. Genetic distance values were calculated between 0.00201 and 0.15332, and it was determined that the closest species were L. xanthopterus and L. esocinus, and the most distant species were B. lacerta and A. grypus. In addition, phylogenetic analyzes of the target species were made and an phylogenetic tree was formed and the species were distinguished. In future studies, it is recommended to evaluate the data in this study, to determine the genetic characteristics of populations, and to carry out conservation studies at the population level.