SPECIES DOCUMENTATION OF FRESHWATER FISH FROM BANGKA-BELITUNG ISLANDS BASED ON COI DNA BARCODES

Abstract

Bangka Belitung Islands are part of the biogeographic region of the Sunda Shelf (Sundaland), which is recognized for its high freshwater biodiversity. Local freshwater fishes are species that inhabit riverine ecosystems across Bangka Island. However, the persistence of these fishes is increasingly threatened by habitat degradation, land-use conversion, and the impacts of open-pit tin mining. Despite escalating environmental pressures, comprehensive documentation of freshwater fish species from Bangka Island—particularly those employing molecular approaches—remains extremely limited. This study aimed to document local freshwater fish species from Bangka Island using a DNA barcoding approach based on the mitochondrial Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit I (COI) gene. Sampling was conducted through exploratory surveys and random sampling across diverse freshwater habitats on Bangka Island, while molecular analyses were carried out in 2024. The analytical procedures included genomic DNA extraction, PCR amplification of the COI gene, assessment of amplification quality, and DNA sequencing to obtain barcode sequences. Species identification was performed by comparing the obtained sequences using BLAST analysis against the NCBI GenBank database. All validated COI sequences were subsequently submitted to GenBank to enrich publicly accessible molecular reference data. The results of this study provide molecular documentation of several local freshwater fish taxa, including Betta burdigala, Encheloclarias tapeinopterus, Paedocypris progenetica, Aperioptus pictorius, Barbodes lateristriga, Glyptothorax robustus, Betta foerschi, Betta edithae, and Betta uberis. This study represents the first integrated molecular inventory of local freshwater fishes from Bangka Island and serves as a critical foundation for future taxonomic, phylogenetic, and biodiversity assessments within the Sundaland region. The generated DNA barcoding data are expected to enhance species identification accuracy and support sustainable documentation and conservation of freshwater fish diversity.