Meeting Abstract
The Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) is an abundant, small coastal shark found in temperate and tropical waters of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Life history characteristics in this species are generally established, but the occurrence of multiple mating by females (polyandry) as a reproductive strategy remains undocumented. Studies indicate that polyandry is common among sharks, but to date no small coastal sharks have been studied. For this study, muscle tissue samples from 80 R. terraenovae broods were collected off the coast of Alabama. DNA will be extracted from all samples and microsatellite markers applied for parentage analysis. With these data, we aim to discern the occurrence and frequency of multiple mating in R. terraenovae over several reproductive seasons to examine how this trait varies over time. The results and information from this study may provide additional information about genetic diversity of the R. terraenovae population in the Gulf of Mexico. Different reproductive strategies can influence genetic diversity and fitness, and are therefore of interest for conservation management. If multiple paternity proves to be common in R. terraenovae, potential population-level consequences of exploitation by fisheries may need to be assessed to understand how fisheries affect the genetic diversity of this species.
