FISH ENVIRONMENTAL DNA IN VARIOUS RIVERS OF MALAKAND:

A PRACTICABILITY STUDY ON THE ACCESSIBILITY OF EDNA FOR

FISHERIES

Introduction and background.

Environment DNA (eDNA) is a nonlethal sampling method that has potential for
evaluating fisheries resources. This technique of detecting species is novel approach and having
no lethal effects on the existence of species. To evaluate whether eDNA information is useful for
fisheries, we will collect and analyze eDNA samples from 14 sites in various rivers of Malakand.

Objective of the study

To look whether eDNA is useful for ichthyofaunal diversity in various rivers of Malakand KP
Pakistan.

Methodology

A large number (up to 1000) of water samples will be collected from different spots of various
rivers in Malakand division. The DNA will be extracted from the samples through manual
method. The extracted DNA will be then amplified through RT-PCR Using MiFish universal
primers, fish mitochondrial 12S rRNAs were amplified from the eDNA by polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) and then sequencing. The obtained sequences will be then compared with
sequences from NCBI in bioinformatics to build phylogenetic relationship of various sequences
of the study.

This method of ichthyofaunal diversity investigations is quite ecofriendly and saving the
vulnerable species to be conserved.

eDNA is novel research and is never been performed in Pakistan. However, it is currently
extensively used in Japan, USA, UK, Germany and other developed countries.