DNA Barcoding of the Predator Birds in Mazandaran Province

Identifying the species richness and diversity is one of the basic steps to protect of the biodiversity. The proper identification of predator birds based on the morphological characteristics of the species is difficult, so species differentiation using molecular data has become an efficient technic for taxonomists. In this study, the nucleotide sequencing of the (COI) gene was studied for 36 samples of the Bird of prey of Mazandaran province. DNA extraction was done using blood and feather of collected samples. 660 pairs of nucleotides from the sequence of the mentioned gene were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. The results of phylogenetic tree show the separation of four families of Falconidae, Accipitridae, Tytonidae and other Strigidae of Mazandaran province with a total of 27 clads in 14 different Genus of Bird of prey. The average of Interspecies genetic divergence was estimated about 5.8 for Falconidae and 11.8 and 15.4 for Accipitridae and Tytonidae respectively. The Interspecies genetic distance was estimated between 1.5 to 12.3 for Falconidae, 3.9 to 16.3 for Accipitridae and 14.3 to 20.8 for Tytonidae. In this way, it can be possible to determine the range of species identification in the Bird of prey according to the mentioned range, and each of these clads can be described as an evolutionary unit which has a special genetic integrity and are qualified for protection.