Molecular Identification of an Invasive Sarotherodon Species from the Atchakpa Freshwater Reservoir (Ouémé River Basin, Benin) and Comparison within S. melanotheron Using COI Markers

The Atchakpa freshwater reservoir (Ouémé Basin, Benin) was found to harbour an unexpected population of a cichlid species that presumed be Sarotherodon melanotheron. This became dominant in the and main fisheries target species. We applied DNA barcoding identify this population. Besides specimens from reservoir, we also sequenced S. melanotheron its native range Benin at lower Ouémé Sô Rivers, Lake Nokoué, Porto-Novo Lagoon. High sequence similarity indicated all were conspecific. Hence, cannot exclude natural extension led presence reservoir. A comparison with sequences NCBI GenBank confirmed samples belonged subspecies m. melanotheron, which is Benin. showed previously introduced Philippines. call for further studies investigate socioeconomic, ecological environmental impacts