January 10, 2024 — A new study using advanced DNA barcoding technology by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University researchers sheds new light on Israel’s freshwater fish biodiversity which could aid in conservation efforts.

According to the study initiated by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and published in Ecology and Evolution, the researchers unveiled intriguing insights into the unique populations and species composition in the region, including genetic distinctiveness in the process of developing a reliable inventory of species and populations.

Israel’s geographic location as a continental bridge has provided its freshwater fish fauna with a tapestry of species, originating from Africa, Asia, and Europe. Often, these species are endemic or represented by populations adapted to live at the peripheries of their distribution ranges. However, freshwater habitats, especially in arid regions like some parts of Israel, have been facing substantial pressures and disturbances, threatening biodiversity.

To address these challenges, the research team used DNA barcoding, a cutting-edge technique that complements traditional species identification methods, to create a comprehensive database for Israel’s freshwater fish. Over 200 specimens from the scientific collections stored at the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History—representing more than 28 species—underwent DNA barcoding analysis. The results yielded 71 distinct barcodes, with an astonishing 37%  classified as newly identified. This discovery underscores the unparalleled uniqueness of fish populations in Israel.

While most species showed alignment between morphological and molecular identifications, the study identified discrepancies in five genera, and lead to significant reconsiderations for 12 different species. Notably, the research suggests the consolidation of species and proposes taxonomic revisions. Among these proposals, Acanthobrama telavivensis (Lavnun ha’yarkon) is suggested as a junior synonym for Acanthobrama lissneri (Lavnun Lisnner), and the potential splitting of Garra nana (Yableset) into two distinct species, alongside establishing the presence of Garra jordanica and not Garra rufa (Red garra) in Israel and the near region. Additionally, the study challenges previously reported classifications of certain species, such as Pseudophoxinus kervillei (Lavnunit ha’galil), suggesting discrepancies from neighboring regions. Similarly, in the case of the Oxynoemacheilus (Loach) species, combining DNA barcoding with morphology revisited how many and which species are in Israel. Of significant importance is the revelation regarding Aphanius mento (Pearl-spotted killifish), indicating the likelihood of it being a species complex (a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear) due to genetic and geographic disparities.

This comprehensive barcoding database not only prompts significant reconsiderations of species within the region but also identifies biodiversity ‘hotspots,’ notably the Sea of Galilee and the Beit She’an valley streams.

“The implications of this study extend beyond taxonomy, advocating for a deeper understanding of fish species and their ecological dynamics,” says Prof. Lior David and Dr. Roni Tadmor-Levi of the Hebrew University Department of Animal Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment. “This research is poised to fuel further investigations into the region’s fish species and their habitats, strengthening efforts towards monitoring and conserving Israel and the region’s freshwater fish biodiversity.”

According to Dr. Noam Leader, Director of the Ecology Department, and Dr. Dana Milstein (Aquatic Ecologist) of the Science Division of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, “The Parks Authority works to preserve the diversity of fish fauna which are characteristic and unique to Israel, including 13 species that are protected species by law. The current study clarifies which species exist in Israel and makes it possible to better assess their distribution, and more importantly to identify those that are at risk.”

This research was supported by the Israel National Parks Authority and The Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection.

The research paper titled “Revisiting the Species List of Freshwater Fish in Israel Based on DNA Barcoding” is now available in Ecology and Evolution and can be accessed at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.10812.

Researchers:

Roni Tadmor-Levi^1,2, Tamar Feldstein-Farkash³, Dana Milstein⁴, Daniel Golani², Noam Leader⁴, Menachem⁴ Goren³ and Lior David^1,2

Institutions:
1) Department of Animal Sciences, Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

2) National Natural History Collections and Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

3) The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History and School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University

4) Science and Conservation Division, Israel Nature and Parks Authority