Assessment of multiple paternity in spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna) litters from eastern Australian waters

Alicia K Linn; Alexis L Levengood; Christine L Dudgeon; Johan Gustafson; Julia Smith; Bonnie Holmes

doi:10.1071/MF24222

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Assessment of multiple paternity in spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna) litters from eastern Australian waters

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Assessment of multiple paternity in spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna) litters from eastern Australian waters

Alicia K Linn, Alexis L Levengood, Christine L Dudgeon, Johan Gustafson, Julia Smith and Bonnie Holmes

Marine & Freshwater Research, Vol.76, pp.1-7

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/MF24222

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Abstract

Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)

Marine systems and management

Carcharhinus brevipinna

elasmobranch

genetics

mating system

multiple sires

polyandry

reproductive biology

shark

single nucleotide polymorphisms

spinner shark

Context The spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna) is a medium-sized, coastal species distributed across the warm waters of all ocean basins. Knowledge of this species’ reproductive biology is limited to general parameters such as reproductive mode and average litter sizes, and very little is known about their reproductive strategy. Aims Here, we provide an assessment of multiple paternity, using single nucleotide polymorphisms. Methods DNA was extracted from 2 gravid females and the 18 pups between their 2 litters captured off the Australian eastern coast. Sibship analyses were conducted to assess multiple paternity. Key results For the first time globally, multiple paternity was confirmed in this species in both litters examined. Conclusions This study confirms that C. brevipinna employs some degree of polyandry as part of its mating system. Implications This research contributes to the growing number of studies regarding multiple paternity in elasmobranchs and provides new information on the reproductive biology of this species.

Details

Title: Assessment of multiple paternity in spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna) litters from eastern Australian waters
Authors: Alicia K Linn (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Alexis L Levengood (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Christine L Dudgeon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Johan Gustafson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Julia Smith (Author) - Griffith University
Bonnie Holmes (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Publication details: Marine & Freshwater Research, Vol.76, pp.1-7
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1071/MF24222
ISSN: 1448-6059
Copyright note: © 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Data Availability: The data that support this study can be made available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.
Grant note: A. K. Linn received honours research funding support through the University of the Sunshine Coast. Additional funding was provided by Shark Ecology Australia for SNP genotyping.
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991148140202621
Output Type: Journal article

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