Metrics
69 File views/ downloads
130 Record Views
Thesis
MULTIPLE PATERNITY AND REPRODUCTIVE PERIODICITY IN THE FINETOOTH SHARK (CARCHARHINUS ISODON)
University of West Florida
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2018
Abstract
Effectively managing shark species that are harvested in recreational and commercial fishing requires a thorough understanding of their mating systems. Most sharks are polyandrous (females mating with multiple males in one season), which can result in multiple paternity (multiple sires for one brood). Genetic markers can be used to determine the frequency of multiple paternity in a population, which can provide insight into the adaptive advantages of this behavior. I hypothesized that the frequency of multiple paternity correlates with the frequency at which females encounter mature males (Encounter Rate Hypothesis, ERH). Thus, species that aggregate in large groups during the mating season would have a higher frequency of multiple paternity than species that tend to be solitary. In this study, the genetic mating system of 92 pregnant female finetooth sharks (Carcharhinus isodon) from the Northern Gulf of Mexico was investigated using 12 microsatellite loci. This population of C. isodon is known to aggregate and has shown evidence of co-occurring annual and biennial reproductive periodicity, allowing the ERH to be directly tested. Multiple paternity was estimated at 83% (95% CI = 77 - 97%) in the overall population, and no significant correlation was found between reproductive periodicity and frequency of multiple paternity.
Details
- Title
- MULTIPLE PATERNITY AND REPRODUCTIVE PERIODICITY IN THE FINETOOTH SHARK (CARCHARHINUS ISODON)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Identifiers
- 99380090841306600
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida