Geographical variation in mitogenomes of the largetooth sawfish Pristis pristis: Challenges and perspectives for conservation efforts

Sawfishes (Pristidae) have been severely impacted by coastal development and unregulated fisheries and are considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses have shown potential for monitoring elasmobranch species, with various studies focusing on using species-specific approaches to detect Pristis species. However positive detection using existing probes has not been confirmed in some geographic regions where they would be expected. Here, we aimed to verify the phylogenetic relationships within the Pristidae family, with a particular focus on P. pristis (Linnaeus, 1758) to test whether mutations at key sites have been detrimental to species-specific detection of P. pristis using the existing probe set. To test this hypothesis mitogenomes were assembled that were found to follow the typical pattern of vertebrate mitogenomic organization. Phylogenetic trees showed similar topologies and confirmed geographic mitochondrial variation in P. pristis . Mismatches for the published 12S species-specific probe set for P. pristis were identified that prevent amplification of positive control samples from Brazil. However, ddPCR detection of the positive control was possible using a newly designed species-specific probe set. This study highlights how geographical variation can severely impact the success of generally applying species-specific detection systems developed based on data from only one geographical region. The new mitogenomes and species-specific probe set developed here may also contribute to improving the potential to map and monitor these Critically Endangered species across the globe. • Sawfishes are the most threatened elasmobranch group. • eDNA approaches can help to improve conservation of sawfishes. • Mismatches in published primers/probes may to prevent P. pristis detection regionally. • New primers and probes efficiently amplified P. pristis DNA from the Western Atlantic. • The species-specific approach is valuable for monitoring and conserving sawfishes.