First record of the mating system in the grey smoothhound shark (Mustelus californicus)

ABSTRACT

Mating systems constitute an important biological characteristic that must be evaluated in commercially important species due to the effects of these systems on population growth rates and genetic diversity levels, which in turn determine the evolutionary potential of a population in the presence of environmental change. The most commonly reported mating system in sharks is polyandry, yet isolated reports of genetic monogamy have been published. The present study aimed to infer the mating system of two gravid Mustelus californicus females from Puerto Libertad, Sonora. The genetic analyses and parental reconstructions from the litters of both females indicated that genetic monogamy was most likely at work. We also discuss the ecological and biological features that may support genetic monogamy in this species. This is the first record of this mating system in M. californicus, which provides baseline data for future studies.

KEYWORDS:

• Multiple paternity
• elasmobranch
• chondrichthyan
• sperm competition
• mating system
• genetic monogamy

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the fishers from Puerto Libertad and Bahia Kino for their valuable help with tissue collection. We also thank Daniela Félix and Erick Oñate for their valuable help in the field. Thanks to Andrea Liévana MacTavish for English editing and comments on the manuscript. Thanks to the anonymous referees who substantially improved the manuscript. This work was partially supported by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT, project PDCPN 2014-248076-TR; awarded to NCSS). AOTM received a scholarship from the Departamento de Becas CUCBA-UdeG and the Proyecto de Mejora en Nivel Académico a Estudiantes for an academic summer stay with Programa Delfín. NCSS participated in the CONACyT program Cátedras CONACyT (No. 2137).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología [grant number 2137; 248076].