title: Improving the Conservation of Mediterranean Chondrichthyans: The ELASMOMED DNA Barcode Reference Library.
abstract: Cartilaginous fish are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors and environmental change because of their K-selected reproductive strategy. Accurate data from scientific surveys and landings are essential to assess conservation status and to develop robust protection and management plans. Currently available data are often incomplete or incorrect as a result of inaccurate species identifications, due to a high level of morphological stasis, especially among closely related taxa. Moreover, several diagnostic characters clearly visible in adult specimens are less evident in juveniles. Here we present results generated by the ELASMOMED Consortium, a regional network aiming to sample and DNA-barcode the Mediterranean Chondrichthyans with the ultimate goal to provide a comprehensive DNA barcode reference library. This library will support and improve the molecular taxonomy of this group and the effectiveness of management and conservation measures. We successfully barcoded 882 individuals belonging to 42 species (17 sharks, 24 batoids and one chimaera), including four endemic and several threatened ones. Morphological misidentifications were found across most orders, further confirming the need for a comprehensive DNA barcoding library as a valuable tool for the reliable identification of specimens in support of taxonomist who are reviewing current identification keys. Despite low intraspecific variation among their barcode sequences and reduced samples size, five species showed preliminary evidence of phylogeographic structure. Overall, the ELASMOMED initiative further emphasizes the key role accurate DNA barcoding libraries play in establishing reliable diagnostic species specific features in otherwise taxonomically problematic groups for biodiversity management and conservation actions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5513-0086
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cariani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Messinetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Department STEBICEF, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arculeo
authors.affiliation: University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bonello
authors.affiliation: University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonnici
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cannas
authors.affiliation: COISPA Technology and Research, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carbonara
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cau
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Nicosia, Republic of Cyprus.
authors.forename: Charis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Charilaou
authors.affiliation: Centre Régional de Institut National Recherche Halieutique, Nador, Morocco.
authors.forename: Najib
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El Ouamari
authors.affiliation: Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC) National Research Council (CNR), Mazara del Vallo, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fiorentino
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Follesa
authors.affiliation: Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC) National Research Council (CNR), Mazara del Vallo, Italy.
authors.forename: Germana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garofalo
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Golani
authors.affiliation: Department DIMEVET, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guarniero
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hanner
authors.affiliation: Ecole Nationale Superieure des Sciences de la Mer et d'Amenagement du Littoral, Campus Universitaire de Dely Ibrahim, Alger, Algeria.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hemida
authors.affiliation: Centre Régional de Institut National Recherche Halieutique, Nador, Morocco.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kada
authors.affiliation: Department STEBICEF, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lo Brutto
authors.affiliation: Regional Agency for Environmental Protection-Toscana (ARPAT), Livorno, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mancusi
authors.affiliation: Asociación Ondine, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morey
authors.affiliation: University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schembri
authors.affiliation: Regional Agency for Environmental Protection-Toscana (ARPAT), Livorno, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serena
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sion
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stagioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tursi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Nedo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vrgoc
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steinke
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tinti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D005399:Fishes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D013045:Species Specificity