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Mitochondrial cytochrome b variation in sleeper sharks (Squaliformes: Somniosidae)

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Abstract

Sleeper sharks are a poorly studied group of deep-sea sharks. The subgenus, Somniosus, contains three morphologically similar species: S. microcephalus found in the Arctic and North Atlantic; S. pacificus in the North Pacific; and S. antarcticus in the Southern Ocean. These sharks have been reported mainly in temperate to polar waters and occasionally in subtropical locations. They have not been recorded in tropical waters. This study investigates the relationships among the accepted species of Somniosus through analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence variation. Seventy-five samples were examined from four sampling locations in the North Pacific, Southern Ocean and North Atlantic. Twenty-one haplotypes were found. A minimum spanning parsimony network separated these haplotypes into two divergent clades, an S. microcephalus and an S. pacificus/antarcticus clade, strongly supporting the distinction of S. microcephalus as a separate species from the Pacific sleeper shark species. Analysis of genetic structure within the S. pacificus/antarcticus clade (analysis of molecular variance, allele frequency comparisons, and a nested clade analysis) showed limited or no differences amongst three populations. Further examination of genetic variation at more variable mtDNA and nuclear markers is needed to examine the species status of S. pacificus and S. antarcticus.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Mark Thompson, UNBC, for technical assistance. For help with sample collections, would like to thank Ross Daley, CSIRO, (Antarctic samples), Kenneth J. Goldman, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, (Pacific samples), Hildibrandur Bjarnason (Iceland samples) and Mr. Chen (for Hualien samples). We also thank Dr. Lee-Shing Fang (National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Taiwan) for his support and encouragement. This work was supported by an NSERC Discovery Grant to BWM. This work complies with the current laws of Canada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, Canada, V2N 4Z9

    Brent William Murray

  2. Formosacetus Research and Conservation Group, 310-7250 Yonge St., Thornhill, ON, Canada

    John Y. Wang

  3. National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium, 2 Houwan Road, Checheng, Pingtung County, 944, Taiwan

    John Y. Wang

  4. Formosacetus Research and Conservation Group, 5F-5, #78, Chung-Mei 13 St., Hualien, Hualien County, Taiwan

    Shih-Chu Yang

  5. CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research, P. O. Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia

    John D. Stevens

  6. Great Lakes Institute for Environment Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Canada, N9B 3P4

    Aaron Fisk

  7. Institute of Biology, University of Iceland, IS-101, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Jörundur Svavarsson

Authors
  1. Brent William Murray
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  2. John Y. Wang
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  3. Shih-Chu Yang
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  6. Jörundur Svavarsson
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Correspondence to Brent William Murray.

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Communicated by R.J. Thompson.

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Murray, B.W., Wang, J.Y., Yang, SC. et al. Mitochondrial cytochrome b variation in sleeper sharks (Squaliformes: Somniosidae). Mar Biol 153, 1015–1022 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-007-0871-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-007-0871-1

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