Genetic network and breeding patterns of a sicklefin lemon shark (Negaprion acutidens) population in the Society Islands, French Polynesia

Human pressures have put many top predator populations at risk of extinction. Recent years have seen alarming declines in sharks worldwide, while their resilience remains poorly understood. Studying the ecology of small populations of marine predators is a priority to better understand their ability...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2013-08, Vol.8 (8), p.e73899-e73899
Main Authors: Mourier, Johann, Buray, Nicolas, Schultz, Jennifer K, Clua, Eric, Planes, Serge
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anthropogenic factors
Breeding
Commercial fishing
Dispersal
Ecological monitoring
Ecology
Endangered & extinct species
Environmental monitoring
Environmental stress
Extinction (Biology)
Female
Fish
Fisheries
Fishing
Gene Regulatory Networks
Genetic diversity
Genetic relationship
Genetics, Population
Inbreeding
Islands
Male
Mating
Microsatellite Repeats
Migration
Negaprion
Negaprion acutidens
Negaprion brevirostris
Paternity
Polymorphism, Genetic
Polynesia
Population
Population number
Populations
Predators
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Sexual Behavior, Animal
Sharks
Sharks - genetics
Species extinction
Studies
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Summary:Human pressures have put many top predator populations at risk of extinction. Recent years have seen alarming declines in sharks worldwide, while their resilience remains poorly understood. Studying the ecology of small populations of marine predators is a priority to better understand their ability to withstand anthropogenic and environmental stressors. In the present study, we monitored a naturally small island population of 40 adult sicklefin lemon sharks in Moorea, French Polynesia over 5 years. We reconstructed the genetic relationships among individuals and determined the population's mating system. The genetic network illustrates that all individuals, except one, are interconnected at least through one first order genetic relationship. While this species developed a clear inbreeding avoidance strategy involving dispersal and migration, the small population size, low number of breeders, and the fragmented environment characterizing these tropical islands, limits its complete effectiveness.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0073899