The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala and Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu are joining hands in a collaborative project to prepare a biodiversity database and DNA barcode data of marine molluscs of India.
Funded by the Department of Biotechnology under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, the Rs.70 lakh project will document the rich biodiversity of marine molluscs of India, with special emphasis on the fauna of southeast and southwest coasts, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands.
It will prepare the DNA barcode data of commercially valuable marine molluscs. Apart from providing precise information on the taxonomy of molluscs, the data is also expected to help the management and conservation of species. Further, the barcode data will help identify yet unknown species and identify taxonomically-complicated specimens of marine molluscs.
The most important aspect of the project is that it will provide molecular data on molluscs scheduled in the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, helping to track illegal trade and commercial exploitation of the species, by examining even a piece of tissue, says Dr. A. Bijukumar of the University of Kerala, one of the coordinators of the programme.
An accurate, rapid, cost-effective and universally accessible DNA-based species identification programme christened “DNA Barcoding” has been authenticated by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as an efficient method of documenting diversity of species in ecosystems. Through a reliable ordering of biological information, the barcoding process enables accurate identification of species even by non- specialists.
Mollusca (including marine shells, octopus, sepia, loligo, limpets, elephant tusk shells) represent the largest marine category with about 23 per cent of all named marine organisms and the most diverse species inhabiting coastal waters. Because of their diversity, molluscs provide better pictures on marine biodiversity and ecosystem health.
The marine molluscan fauna of India includes about 3,370 species, out of which 24 are included in Schedule – I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The protected species include the horned helmet shell (Cassis cornuta), Trumpet triton (Charonia tritonis), “Glory of India” cone shell (Conus millnedwardsii), Red Helmet (Cypraecassis rufa), Emperor nautilus (Nautilus pompilus), Cowries and spider conches.
As many as eight varieties of oyster, two species of mussel, 17 species of clam, six species of pearl oyster, four species of giant clam and one species of window-pane oyster as well as gastropods such as Turbinella pyrum, Trochus sp., Turbo sp., and Babylonia spp. and 15 species of cephalopods are among the commercially exploited species of molluscs in India.
Apart from Dr. Bijumar, Dr. Sanil George of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology and Dr. Patterson Edward of Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute will co-ordinate the three-year programme named “Biodiversity, DNA Barcoding and Phylogeny of Commercially Valuable Marine Molluscs of India”.
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