Genetic Research to Guide Conservation and the Understanding of Freshwater Eels of the Genus Anguilla: A Bibliographic Analysis
Date
Authors
Miller, Therese
Miller, Michael
Giles, Emily
Jeffs, Andrew
Sabadel, Amandine
Laroche, Olivier
Pochon, Xavier
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Abstract
Anguillid eels have facultative catadromous life histories that include long distance oceanic spawning migrations and an extensive leptocephalus larval duration. Less known is the important role genetic research has played in understanding these mysterious fishes of the genus Anguilla. A bibliographic literature search was conducted on studies using genetic methodologies to understand Anguilla species, and a database of papers from 1973–2025 included 335 publications, increasing over time to reach a maximum of 103 between 2020 and 2025. The DNA literature was dominated by studies on Anguilla, Anguilla, and Anguilla, but all species have been included in recent phylogenetic studies. In addition to providing a bibliographic database of genetic papers, this review points to the value of multi-gene or whole genome approaches to clarify relationships within and among anguillid eel species. There is also the need for the development of standardised protocols for environmental DNA (eDNA) research with improved species-specific assays, which can help support the conservation of these remarkable fishes that live in both freshwater and the sea.Description
Keywords
31 Biological Sciences, 3105 Genetics, Genetics, 15 Life on Land, 0602 Ecology, 0608 Zoology, 0704 Fisheries Sciences, Fisheries, 3005 Fisheries sciences, 3103 Ecology
Source
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, ISSN: 0706-652X (Print); 1205-7533 (Online), Canadian Science Publishing, 0(ja). doi: 10.1139/cjfas-2025-0370
Publisher's version
Rights statement
This is the Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences by Canadian Science Publishing. Free access at doi: 10.1139/cjfas-2025-0370