title: Two decades of genetic profiling yields first evidence of natal philopatry and long-term fidelity to parturition sites in sharks.
abstract: Sharks are a globally threatened group of marine fishes that often breed in their natal region of origin. There has even been speculation that female sharks return to their exact birthplace to breed ('natal philopatry'), which would have important conservation implications. Genetic profiling of lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) from 20 consecutive cohorts (1993-2012) at Bimini, Bahamas, showed that certain females faithfully gave birth at this site for nearly two decades. At least six females born in the 1993-1997 cohorts returned to give birth 14-17 years later, providing the first direct evidence of natal philopatry in the chondrichthyans. Long-term fidelity to specific nursery sites coupled with natal philopatry highlights the merits of emerging spatial and local conservation efforts for these threatened predators.
authors.affiliation: Pritzker Laboratory for Molecular Systematics and Evolution, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Feldheim
authors.forename: Samuel H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Dibattista
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Babcock
authors.forename: Steven T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kessel
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hendry
authors.forename: Ellen K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Pikitch
authors.forename: Mary V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: Demian D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001444:Bahamas; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005260:Female; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012754:Sharks / Q000235:genetics*
keywords: natal philopatry; nursery habitat; shark conservation