Assessing differences among elasmobranch nurseries to aid conservation based on a genomics framework
0.00018, 95% confidence interval 0.00008-0.00028). We quantified standing genetic variation and estimated the contemporary effective population size for each nursery, and although some differences were observed, they were not statistically significant. Our results suggested that female scalloped hammerheads consistently used specific nurseries and that connectivity (via males or females straying between nurseries) facilitated the dispersal of genetic variation, which may enhance population resilience to environmental change. The genomics framework we applied is broadly applicable to conservation-based assessments of elasmobranch nurseries and essential habitats of other highly mobile species and provides a powerful tool for addressing conservation challenges.
Authors
- Douglas H. Adams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3539-6629)
- David S. Portnoy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8178-1018)
- Bethany M. Deacy
- Dominic G. Swift (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3416-2628)
- Bryan S. Frazier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7718-9492)
- Amanda M. Barker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7608-498X)
- James Gelsleichter
- Dana M. Bethea
- William B. Driggers
Institutions
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (US)
- University of North Florida (US)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US)
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (US)
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (US)
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center (US)
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (US)
- Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Conservation Biology
- Published
- 2026-04-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70280
- Primary Topic
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center