A tale of two seas: contrasting patterns of population structure in the small-spotted catshark across Europe.

ABSTRACT: Elasmobranchs represent important components of marine ecosystems, but they can be vulnerable to overexploitation. This has driven investigations into the population genetic structure of large-bodied pelagic sharks, but relatively little is known of population structure in smaller demersal taxa, which are perhaps more representative of the biodiversity of the group. This study explores spatial population genetic structure of the small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula), across European seas. The results show significant genetic differences among most of the Mediterranean sample collections, but no significant structure among Atlantic shelf areas. The data suggest the Mediterranean populations are likely to have persisted in a stable and structured environment during Pleistocene sea-l

SUBMITTER: Gubili C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4448844 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature