NPRB_924: DNA-based identification of larve and dietary components

Accurate identification of various life history stages and prey items of marine fishes and invertebrates is central for understanding distribution, abundance, trophic ecology, and
biodiversity of these species. Taxonomic approaches have been successfully applied to ichthyoplankton identification and diet analysis efforts for many years. Identification to the species
level requires varying degrees of taxonomic expertise. and diagnostic characters for eggs or larvae in some species have not been elucidated. Prey remains may be too digested for consistently
accurate identification to the species level.Here we developed a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) database and laboratory protocols to accurately identify any life history stages of commercially
important fish species, with special emphasis on those species that have been difficult or impossible to identify by conventional taxonomic means. Results from this study have the potential to
fill important knowledge gaps for commercially and ecologically important species routinely studied at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), especially for ichthyoplankton
identification, species composition in fish diets and forensic identification for law enforcement. The database provided the foundation for development of rapid, cost-effective, and accurate
molecular protocols to identify species under circumstances where traditional taxonomic approaches founder or fail. These datasets were archived as part of the North Pacific Research Board legacy project recovery effort undertaken by Axiom Data Science and NPRB in 2025. The goal of the recovery effort was to assess the NPRB-funded data projects from 2002 to 2014 and archive final data packages that were ready for publication to increase long-term accessibility and discoverability. Data packages were archived as is given limited funding and resources.