Relatedness and polyandry of sixgill sharks, Hexanchus griseus, in an urban estuary

摘要: The bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) is a widely distributed species found in tropical and temperate waters of every ocean, yet we know relatively little about their basic biology including life history population structure. From 2003–2007, collected over 300 biopsy samples from sixgills during research operations Puget Sound, WA, USA. Genotypic data using ten polymorphic microsatellites were used to describe genetic diversity, relatedness mating pattern. Diversity within was be moderate with an average observed heterozygosity 0.45, expected 0.61, 12 alleles per locus, allelic richness eight microsatellite loci. Our suggests all the sampled individuals come one intermixing population, no historical evidence significant bottlenecks. Many sharks longline techniques several captured at same time place. Similarly, multiple on occasions events Seattle Aquarium. proportion that full- or half-siblings high among place (range 0.65–0.87). Analysis relationship between large female washed ashore 71 her near-term pups suggested polyandrous system as many nine males contributing offspring. This study first investigate paternity sheds light important conservation implications for this known population.