Differential gene flow patterns for two commercially exploited shark species along the south–west coast of South Africa
Published online on 04. August 2015
Differential gene flow patterns for two commercially exploited shark species, tope (Galeorhinus galeus) and common smoothhound (Mustelus mustelus) along the south–west coast of South Africa
Daphne N. Bitalo, Simo N. Maduna, Charlene da Silva, Rouvay Roodt-Wilding, Aletta E. Bester-van der Merwe
ABSTRACT:
South Africa’s demersal sharks are threatened by over-exploitation, lack of species-specific catch data and non-cohesive fishing regulations. Two of the species most affected by fisheries are the common smoothhound (Mustelus mustelus) and the tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) for which regional population structure is largely unknown. In this study, the population genetic structure of M. mustelus (n = 105) and G. galeus (n = 124) landed off the south–west coast of South Africa was investigated. Genetic diversity and gene flow patterns were compared based on genotype data generated from 12 microsatellite markers previously developed in closely related Triakidae species. Summary statistics and Bayesian analysis indicated significant population differentiation for M. mustelus and moderate to high gene flow between sampling sites for G. galeus. The different patterns of gene flow detected for these two species might be attributed to species-specific habitat preference and movement patterns and could have potential implications for fisheries management pertaining to these sharks.
Fisheries Research, Volume 172, December 2015, Pages 190–196, doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2015.07.003