Molecular techniques, like DNA sequencing, have become critical tools in modern systematic research. The development of the SAIAB molecular laboratory is facilitating the application of molecular techniques in broad aquatic biodiversity and systematics research in southern Africa. Dr Ernst Swartz, Dr Monica Mwale and Dr. Gavin Gouws direct the research at this facility with a full-time laboratory assistant, Ms. Poogendri Reddy. The laboratory staff, students, interns and visitors are active in freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems research with a focus on population genetics, phylogeography, molecular systematics and DNA barcoding.
Marine studies concentrate on genetic stock assessments of fish species of recreational, subsistence and commercial importance and systematic investigations of South African estuarine species. Focus areas on a regional scale include the biogeography and phylogeography of fishes in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) and the systematics of notothenioid fishes in the Southern Ocean. Freshwater studies focus on the phylogeography, phylogenetics and biogeography of temperate, sub-tropical and tropical African fish species. Other areas of interest include fish diversity assessments of major southern African river systems, e.g. the Kwanza system in Angola.
The Fish Barcode of Life (FISH-BOL) project is the molecular laboratory’s flagship project. FISH-BOL is one of the two largest campaigns originally launched by the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (the other being the All Birds Barcoding Initiative – ABBI). SAIAB was one of the original partners in FISH-BOL and is a member institution of CBOL. Through the chairs of the FISH-BOL African Regional Working Group, Ernst Swartz and Monica Mwale, SAIAB is championing fish barcoding in Africa. Through Prof. Paul Skelton, SAIAB is also taking a leading role with other partners in establishing South Africa as a regional node in the iBOL initiative.
Several projects are underway to meet the target of barcoding all of Africa’s fishes. These include the barcoding of fishes of the Western Indian Ocean, freshwater fishes of southern Africa, the inland fishes of Angola, fishes of the Antarctic and the fishes of South Africa.