Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of Capoeta trutta (Heckel, 1843) in Turkey and Iraq based on mitochondrial d loop gene

Abstract

Abstract Capoeta trutta, a species of cyprinid with economic importance thriving in fresh water, is considered to hold a substantial potential for commercial growth in Turkey and Iraq. In recent years, it has been observed that there has been a decrease in the populations of this species, which lives naturally in the Euphrates and Tigris river systems. For long-term fishing and conservation strategies, it is necessary to determine the genetic structure of the populations of this species and to take measures accordingly. In this study, a total of 125 fish samples from 8 populations were collected and the mtDNA D-loop site was analyzed by sequencing, and by determining the genetic structures of C. trutta populations, basic data were obtained for the sustainability and conservation of the stocks of the species. In the analyzes made for the target gene region, a total of 16 polymorphic regions and 22 haplotypes were determined; mean haplotype and nucleotide diversity were calculated as 0.847 and 0.00675, respectively. Pairwise FST values between populations, which were calculated based on haplotype frequencies, varied between − 0.03136 and 0.45114 and were determined to be significant between certain populations. The results obtained in this study will contribute to the planning of effective strategies for the conservation and rehabilitation of future populations for both C. trutta and similar species.