Contrasting Population Structures of Three Pristis Sawfishes With Different Patterns of Habitat Use

Authors

Nicole M. Phillips, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Jennifer A. Chaplin, Murdoch University
Stirling C. Peverell, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
David L. Morgan, Murdoch UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-16-2016

Department

Biological Sciences

Abstract

This research demonstrates how population structure differs in elasmobranchs with different patterns of habitat use. Population structure was assessed using data at microsatellite loci in three species of Pristis sawfishes in northern Australian waters. Statistically significant population structure was found in each of P. clavata (F_ST = 0.021, F′_ST = 0.151, P < 0.001) and P. zijsron (F_ST = 0.026, F′_ST = 0.130, P < 0.001), which spend their entire life in marine waters. In contrast, there was no evidence of significant population structure in P. pristis, which uses freshwater rivers as juveniles and marine waters as adults (F_ST = 0.004, F′_ST = 0.029, P = 0.210). When combined with the results of mtDNA analyses from a previous study, the results suggested that dispersal in P. pristis is male-biased, whereas both male and female gene flow are restricted at large spatial scales in each of P. clavata and P. zijsron in Australian waters. The present study has provided the first evidence of sex-biased dispersal in a sawfish.

Publication Title

Marine and Freshwater Research

Volume

68

Issue

3

First Page

452

Last Page

460

Recommended Citation

Phillips, N. M., Chaplin, J. A., Peverell, S. C., Morgan, D. L. (2016). Contrasting Population Structures of Three Pristis Sawfishes With Different Patterns of Habitat Use. Marine and Freshwater Research, 68(3), 452-460.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/15172