Multiple paternity in the starry smooth-hound sharkMustelus asterias(Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae)

Abstract

Multiple paternity was investigated in the starry smooth-hound shark, Mustelus asterias Cloquet, 1821. Analysis of 12 pregnant females and their embryos, at four microsatellite loci, showed that at least 58% carried multiplysired litters. Paternal skew was observed, with one male siring most of the embryos within a litter, although no patterns of association were detected between the identity of the father and the size or the uterine position of the embryos. Sperm storage was observed in the oviducal glands of all twelve females. Results shed light on the complexity of reproductive strategies and selective processes in M. asterias.

Assessing multiple paternity in three commercially exploited shark species: Mustelus mustelus, Carcharhinus obscurus and Sphyrna lewini

“…mustelus (47%; Marino et al , ) and within the range reported for other Mustelus spp. such as Mustelus punctulatus Risso 1827 (54%) (Marino et al , ), Mustelus asterias Cloquet 1819 (58%) (Farrell et al , ) and M . henlei (40–93%) (Byrne & Avise, ; Chabot & Haggin, ).…”

She gets many and she chooses the best: polygynandry inSalamandrina perspicillata(Amphibia: Salamandridae)

“…most females were already mated); in addition, the studied species apparently does not store sperm across seasons due to the intense spermiophagy occurring after the oviposition phase (Brizzi et al ., ). The observed inability to store and use sperm across multiple breeding seasons by most amphibians (but see S. salamandra for an exception; Sever, ) does not allow multiple paternity without polyandrous behaviour within a single breeding season, as for example occurring in elasmobranchs and marine turtles (Pearse, Janzen & Avise, ; Farrell et al ., ).…”

Evidence for sperm storage in common smoothhound shark Mustelus mustelus and paternity assessment in a single litter from South Africa

“…(), an even larger percentage of MP is reported for the species in Kwa‐Zulu Natal on the east coast of South Africa, where MP was determined in four out of six litters (67%). Several studies in species of Mustelus reveal that the frequency of MP, measured as the percentage of multiple‐sired litters, not only differs between species but also amongst populations (Byrne & Avise, ; Boomer et al, ; Chabot & Haggin, ; Farrell et al, ; Marino et al, ; Rossouw et al, ). Furthermore, a few of these studies also reveal a high variability in the relative paternal contribution of males within species (Boomer et al, ; Farrell et al, ; Rossouw et al, ).…”

“…Several studies in species of Mustelus reveal that the frequency of MP, measured as the percentage of multiple‐sired litters, not only differs between species but also amongst populations (Byrne & Avise, ; Boomer et al, ; Chabot & Haggin, ; Farrell et al, ; Marino et al, ; Rossouw et al, ). Furthermore, a few of these studies also reveal a high variability in the relative paternal contribution of males within species (Boomer et al, ; Farrell et al, ; Rossouw et al, ). These findings suggest female polyandry within a single breeding season, although long‐term sperm storage across breeding seasons could also result in multiple paternity within a litter for serially monogamous females (Pearse et al, ; Adams et al, ; Lage et al, ; Brante et al, ).…”

“…These findings suggest female polyandry within a single breeding season, although long‐term sperm storage across breeding seasons could also result in multiple paternity within a litter for serially monogamous females (Pearse et al, ; Adams et al, ; Lage et al, ; Brante et al, ). In fact, several studies provide evidence for sperm storage in several species of Mustelus including the gummy shark Mustelus antarcticus Günther 1870 (Storrie et al, ), Mustelus asterias Cloquet 1819 (Farrell et al, ), Mustelus canis (Mitchill 1815) (Conrath & Musick, ; Hamlett et al, ) and Mustelus mosis Hemprich & Ehrenberg 1899 (Moore et al, ).…”