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RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)
Contents Vol 75(6)

Genomic population structure of great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran) across the Indo-Pacific

Naomi L. Brunjes https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6474-9762 A * , Samuel M. Williams https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2251-2774 A B C , Alexis L. Levengood A , Matt K. Broadhurst C D , Vincent Raoult https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9459-111X E , Alastair V. Harry F , Matias Braccini F , Madeline E. Green https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5037-2043 G , Julia L. Y. Spaet https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8703-1472 H , Michael J. Travers F and Bonnie J. Holmes A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A University of the Sunshine Coast, School of Science, Technology and Engineering, Sippy Downs, Qld 4556, Australia.

B Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Agri-Science Queensland, Dutton Park, Qld 4102, Australia.

C School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.

D New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.

E Marine Ecology Group, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Ourimbah, NSW 2109, Australia.

F Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Government of Western Australia, North Beach, WA 6920, Australia.

G Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, Tas., Australia.

H Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK.

* Correspondence to: naomibrunjes@gmail.com

Handling Editor: Bradley Wetherbee

Marine and Freshwater Research 75, MF23236 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF23236
Submitted: 22 November 2023  Accepted: 28 February 2024  Published: 10 April 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Context

Currently, little information exists describing the population structure of great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran) in Australian waters.

Aims

This study used single nucleotide polymorphisms to investigate fine-scale population structure in S. mokarran across the Indo-Pacific.

Methods

DNA was extracted from 235 individuals across six Australian locations and a Red Sea outgroup. Population parameters were calculated and visualised to test structuring across locations.

Key results

No fine-scale population structuring was observed for S. mokarran across the Indo-Pacific. However, population structuring occurred for all Australian locations when compared to the Red Sea outgroup.

Conclusions

Findings suggest a single stock is most likely for S. mokarran found in Australian waters. Results provide key information for understanding the broad range movements of S. mokarran and help to define the scale of management required to preserve genetic diversity in this species. The structuring between Australia and the Red Sea indicates limited gene flow and movement.

Implications

Results indicate that large-scale movements of S. mokarran could be occurring to facilitate genetic mixing. Future research focusing on individual tagging to corroborate movements would be highly beneficial to determine how far (and often) individuals are dispersing, and to note where cross-jurisdictional management, including from neighbouring regions in the Indo-West Pacific–Oceania region, are most critical.

Keywords: Australia, gene flow, management scale, panmixia, population genomics, Red Sea, shark fisheries, single nucleotide polymorphisms.

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