Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Conservation for Homebody Tiger Sharks

 




Tiger sharks are undoubtedly one of the most recognizable megafauna that humans come into contact with in the ocean. Researchers recently discovered that tiger sharks have new formed at least two genetically distinct groups in both the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific basins. They found this by comparing the genomes of 242 tiger sharks from various locations around the world. The marine biologists focused on specific genetic markers on their genome and contrasted the differences. One of the authors expected that in the future, the differentiations in their genomes may lead to speciation. 

And while these sharks are generalist predators, their numbers are dwindling from the fin trade and commercial fishing. This is causing them to be listed as a Near Threatened species according to the IUCN. However, studying their genomes may help conservationists develop fishery policies to protect the sharks in each of the areas. Since these "homebody" sharks don't tend to migrate to reproduce as once thought, their habitats in each area can be protected and managed separately. The researchers hope to use these methods to investigate other species of sharks as well.


4 comments:

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  2. This is really cool. I have encountered a few different sharks in the ocean, closer than I'd ever like to again. I appreciate them from a distance and how magnificent they are. I am surprised that these guys don't migrate to give birth. Very neat idea to protect the areas where they live and reproduce to hopefully increase their numbers. Awesome read!

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  3. For my job, we work towards conservation for many species such as sharks. It is so sad how many sharks are killed yearly for finning and shark fin soup. Making protected areas for these sharks to thrive and be able to reproduce is extremely important in making sure that we do not force these animals into extinction.

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  4. It is very interesting that tiger sharks do not migrate for reproduction and remain close to their spawning grounds for reproduction because in the Atlantic, certain populations definitely migrate up and down the Gulf Stream. If tiger sharks do not migrate for reproduction they definitely migrate for food using the warm outflow of the Gulf Stream.

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