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Sex-Biased Dispersal Across the Atlantic? A New Look at Coastal Sharks
EPA Grant Number: U916136Title: Sex-Biased Dispersal Across the Atlantic? A New Look at Coastal Sharks
Investigators: Schultz, Jennifer K.
Institution: University of Illinois at Chicago
EPA Project Officer: Cobbs, Gladys M.
Project Period: January 1, 2003 through January 1, 2006
Project Amount: $95,913
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2003)
Research Category: Academic Fellowships , Fellowship - Aquatic Ecology and Ecosystems , Aquatic Ecosystems
Description:
Objective:The objective of this research project is to assess gene flow across the Atlantic between geographically defined populations using microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA analyses. Rapid decline in shark populations has been attributed to the growing demand for shark fins and unregulated commercial and recreational fishing. Although the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act prevents the overfishing of sharks in national waters, it may not be enough to protect these populations. Recent studies have shown that large "coastal" sharks can migrate long distances, even across the open ocean. Over the past 10 years, the finning industry has exploded in West Africa, causing shark populations there to plummet. Whether our protected coastal sharks are capable of making trans-Atlantic migrations into these unregulated waters is not yet known.
Approach:My research project will further elucidate the migratory behavior of the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris, a coastal shark. I propose to assess gene flow across the Atlantic between geographically defined populations using microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA analyses. The presence of gene flow would indicate that the sharks protected by national legislation may fall prey to fishermen in foreign seas. This could act as an impetus for international collaboration in the management of shark fisheries.
Supplemental Keywords:fellowship, coastal sharks, finning industry, shark fins, sharks, lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris, commercial and recreational fishing, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, FCMA, gene flow, shark populations, migration, trans-Atlantic migrations.