Genetic Network and Breeding Patterns of a Sicklefin Lemon Shark (Negaprion acutidens) Population in the Society Islands, French Polynesia

摘要: Human pressures have put many top predator populations at risk of extinction. Recent years seen alarming declines in sharks worldwide, while their resilience remains poorly understood. Studying the ecology small marine predators is a priority to better understand ability withstand anthropogenic and environmental stressors. In present study, we monitored naturally island population 40 adult sicklefin lemon Moorea, French Polynesia over 5 years. We reconstructed genetic relationships among individuals determined population’s mating system. The network illustrates that all individuals, except one, are interconnected least through one first order relationship. While this species developed clear inbreeding avoidance strategy involving dispersal migration, size, low number breeders, fragmented environment characterizing these tropical islands, limits its complete effectiveness.