Data from: Two decades of genetic profiling yields first evidence of natal philopatry and long-term fidelity to parturition sites in sharks

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.

鲨鱼是一类全球受威胁的海洋鱼类类群，通常会在其出生的原生区域进行繁殖。甚至有假说提出，雌性鲨鱼会返回自身的精确出生地繁殖，该行为被称为出生地归巢（natal philopatry），这一现象对物种保护工作具有重要意义。研究人员对巴哈马比米尼群岛20个连续世代（1993-2012年）的柠檬鲨（Negaprion brevirostris）开展基因分型分析，结果显示，部分雌性个体近二十年来始终在该区域产仔。至少6尾于1993-1997年世代出生的雌性个体在14至17年后返回该地产仔，这为软骨鱼纲（Chondrichthyes）的出生地归巢习性提供了首个直接实证。对特定育幼场的长期坚守习性与出生地归巢习性相结合，凸显了针对这类受威胁捕食者的新兴空间保护与就地保护举措的重要价值。