CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) scientists have found out that the invasive armoured sailfin catfish has spread to 60% in the water bodies of Eastern Ghats, damaging the fishing nets and the eco-system also.
The fish species was once introduced for its unique appearance and its ability to clean algal growth in tanks and aquaria but its population has grown exponentially and this was realised through a unique ‘eDNA-based quantitative PCR assay’ developed by the institute scientists to map the presence and spread of such invasive species, said an official release on Friday.
eDNA is environmental DNA collected from water samples and in this case, the scientists including chief scientist G. Umapathy and Neeldeep Ganguly looked for the DNA of the catfish specifically through this innovative method. Invasive species when introduced species in a new ecosystem can grow rapidly and often lack predators which threatens the new ecosystem and livelihoods depending on it.
