DNA Barcodes for Estimation of Species Phylogeny in Some Rails (Gruiformes: Rallidae)

Abstract

Genetic datasets and evolutionary information for rails are scarce, and genetic studies for them are very sparse and insufficient compared to their widespread use in different zones. Therefore, the phylogenetic lineages among five species of rails belonging to the family Rallidae from Egypt were estimated and evaluated using DNA barcoding, for the first time. In the present study, mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data were analyzed for these rails. Based on 16S rRNA and RAG-1 sequences, phylogenetic trees were constructed using the Maximum Evolution method, revealing that there were two separate genetic clusters, one cluster for Rallus aquaticus, Crex crex, Porzana parva and Porzana pusilla and the second cluster for Porzana porzana. Crex crex and Rallus aquaticus were laid in one clade and formed a sister group. Moreover, Porzana parva and Porzana pusilla formed another sister clade. This study demonstrated the ability of 16S rRNA and RAG-1 genes to identify rails, as well as deducing the genetic relationship between them. The present work is considered a contribution to enriching the genetic relationships among the studied species.