Genetic homogeneity across geographically isolated populations of Coptodon guineensis in Southern Morocco: Insights from the mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene

Keltoum Ouassal; Ignacio Doadrio; Hanane El Hafa; Loubna Tifarouine; Ahmed Yahyaoui

doi:10.22034/ijab.v14i4.2874

Authors

Keltoum Ouassal
ouassal.keltoum@gmail.com
Mohammed V University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Rabat, Morocco.
Ignacio Doadrio National Museum of Natural Sciences, Biodiversity and Evolutionary Group, Madrid, Spain. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4863-9711
Hanane El Hafa Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Meknes, Morocco. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7775-6573
Loubna Tifarouine Chouaib Doukkali University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, El Jadida, Morocco. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9449-677X
Ahmed Yahyaoui Mohammed V University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Rabat, Morocco. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7469-0639

Vol. 14 No. 4 (2026): August

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June 12, 2026

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This study examined the genetic differentiation of the Guinean tilapia, Coptodon guineensis, from two geographically isolated localities in southern Morocco: the arid-zone watercourse Oued Aabar (Smara Region) and the hypersaline Sebkha Imlili (Dakhla City), using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1140 bp) as a molecular marker. Our results showed low genetic diversity and homogeneity between the two populations, indicating a lack of significant genetic differentiation and supporting the treatment of the two populations as a single conservation management unit. The neighbor-joining phylogenetic analysis, including other conspecific sequences and the haplotype network, confirmed this pattern. The observed genetic homogeneity may be attributed to the species’ euryhaline dispersal ability and tolerance to extreme environments, which can facilitate gene flow or reflect historical connectivity among fragmented habitats. Further research should involve more comprehensive sampling with broader spatial and ecological coverage to address the overall genetic structure of Coptodon guineensis across its full distribution range in Morocco.

Ouassal, K., Doadrio, I., El Hafa, H., Tifarouine, L., & Yahyaoui, A. (2026). Genetic homogeneity across geographically isolated populations of Coptodon guineensis in Southern Morocco: Insights from the mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene. International Journal of Aquatic Biology, 14(4), 45–50. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v14i4.2874

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