Reproductive Cycle and Periodicity of In Situ and Aquarium Female Sand Tiger Sharks Carcharias taurus from the Western North Atlantic

Fundamental characteristics of the reproductive biology of female sand tiger sharks Carcharias taurus are needed to understand the periodicity, seasonality and environmental factors essential for reproduction in this iconic species. Animals in managed care, such as aquariums, provide the unique oppo...

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Published in:Frontiers in Marine Science
Main Authors: Jennifer T. Wyffels, Robert George, Emily F. Christiansen, Tonya M. Clauss, Alisa L. Newton, Michael W. Hyatt, Chris Buckner, Véronique LePage, F. Ed Latson, Linda M. Penfold
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022
Subjects:
Q
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.925749
https://doaj.org/article/1a0bb1737a3f41e8bb8029f87896699e
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spelling ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:1a0bb1737a3f41e8bb8029f87896699e 2023-05-15T17:35:47+02:00 Reproductive Cycle and Periodicity of In Situ and Aquarium Female Sand Tiger Sharks Carcharias taurus from the Western North Atlantic Jennifer T. Wyffels Robert George Emily F. Christiansen Tonya M. Clauss Alisa L. Newton Michael W. Hyatt Chris Buckner Véronique LePage F. Ed Latson Linda M. Penfold 2022-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.925749 https://doaj.org/article/1a0bb1737a3f41e8bb8029f87896699e EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.925749/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-7745 2296-7745 doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.925749 https://doaj.org/article/1a0bb1737a3f41e8bb8029f87896699e Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol 9 (2022) triennial cycle biennial cycle progesterone testosterone 17β-estradiol ultrasonography Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.925749 2022-12-30T23:47:14Z Fundamental characteristics of the reproductive biology of female sand tiger sharks Carcharias taurus are needed to understand the periodicity, seasonality and environmental factors essential for reproduction in this iconic species. Animals in managed care, such as aquariums, provide the unique opportunity for longitudinal study in contrast to in situ sharks that are examined opportunistically, and at a single point in time. Additionally, comparison of reproductive observations from successfully reproducing in situ sharks and aquarium sharks may help elucidate reasons for lack of reproduction among aquarium sharks and aid the development of assisted reproductive techniques for managed populations. Reproductive status of in situ and aquarium female sharks was assessed using ultrasonography and plasma hormone (17β-estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone) monitoring. The reproductive cycle was divided into eight stages based on ovarian activity and uterine contents. In situ sharks were sampled from Delaware Bay (n = 29), North Carolina (n = 39) and South Carolina (n = 11) during April-November from 2015–2020. Nineteen aquarium females from five aquaria were examined longitudinally for two or more consecutive years. Reproductive regionalization was observed among in situ females with the majority (83%) of North Carolina females in an active state of reproduction and all Delaware females in a resting reproductive state. All aquarium females had a pattern of reproductive cycling that was consistent with alternating years of activity and rest with confirmed biennial (n = 7) or triennial (n = 3) reproductive cycles with spring seasonality. In contrast to in situ females, aquarium females often retained uterine eggs for 9-20 months after ovulation in the absence of a developing embryo(s). Pre-ovulatory aquarium females had significantly higher concentrations of 17β-estradiol, testosterone and progesterone than other reproductive stages. For females in the ovulatory stage, in situ females had higher testosterone than ... Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Frontiers in Marine Science 9
institution Open Polar
collection Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles
op_collection_id ftdoajarticles
language English
topic triennial cycle
biennial cycle
progesterone
testosterone
17β-estradiol
ultrasonography
Science
Q
General. Including nature conservation
geographical distribution
QH1-199.5
spellingShingle triennial cycle
biennial cycle
progesterone
testosterone
17β-estradiol
ultrasonography
Science
Q
General. Including nature conservation
geographical distribution
QH1-199.5
Jennifer T. Wyffels
Robert George
Emily F. Christiansen
Tonya M. Clauss
Alisa L. Newton
Michael W. Hyatt
Chris Buckner
Véronique LePage
F. Ed Latson
Linda M. Penfold
Reproductive Cycle and Periodicity of In Situ and Aquarium Female Sand Tiger Sharks Carcharias taurus from the Western North Atlantic
topic_facet triennial cycle
biennial cycle
progesterone
testosterone
17β-estradiol
ultrasonography
Science
Q
General. Including nature conservation
geographical distribution
QH1-199.5
description Fundamental characteristics of the reproductive biology of female sand tiger sharks Carcharias taurus are needed to understand the periodicity, seasonality and environmental factors essential for reproduction in this iconic species. Animals in managed care, such as aquariums, provide the unique opportunity for longitudinal study in contrast to in situ sharks that are examined opportunistically, and at a single point in time. Additionally, comparison of reproductive observations from successfully reproducing in situ sharks and aquarium sharks may help elucidate reasons for lack of reproduction among aquarium sharks and aid the development of assisted reproductive techniques for managed populations. Reproductive status of in situ and aquarium female sharks was assessed using ultrasonography and plasma hormone (17β-estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone) monitoring. The reproductive cycle was divided into eight stages based on ovarian activity and uterine contents. In situ sharks were sampled from Delaware Bay (n = 29), North Carolina (n = 39) and South Carolina (n = 11) during April-November from 2015–2020. Nineteen aquarium females from five aquaria were examined longitudinally for two or more consecutive years. Reproductive regionalization was observed among in situ females with the majority (83%) of North Carolina females in an active state of reproduction and all Delaware females in a resting reproductive state. All aquarium females had a pattern of reproductive cycling that was consistent with alternating years of activity and rest with confirmed biennial (n = 7) or triennial (n = 3) reproductive cycles with spring seasonality. In contrast to in situ females, aquarium females often retained uterine eggs for 9-20 months after ovulation in the absence of a developing embryo(s). Pre-ovulatory aquarium females had significantly higher concentrations of 17β-estradiol, testosterone and progesterone than other reproductive stages. For females in the ovulatory stage, in situ females had higher testosterone than ...
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Jennifer T. Wyffels
Robert George
Emily F. Christiansen
Tonya M. Clauss
Alisa L. Newton
Michael W. Hyatt
Chris Buckner
Véronique LePage
F. Ed Latson
Linda M. Penfold
author_facet Jennifer T. Wyffels
Robert George
Emily F. Christiansen
Tonya M. Clauss
Alisa L. Newton
Michael W. Hyatt
Chris Buckner
Véronique LePage
F. Ed Latson
Linda M. Penfold
author_sort Jennifer T. Wyffels
title Reproductive Cycle and Periodicity of In Situ and Aquarium Female Sand Tiger Sharks Carcharias taurus from the Western North Atlantic
title_short Reproductive Cycle and Periodicity of In Situ and Aquarium Female Sand Tiger Sharks Carcharias taurus from the Western North Atlantic
title_full Reproductive Cycle and Periodicity of In Situ and Aquarium Female Sand Tiger Sharks Carcharias taurus from the Western North Atlantic
title_fullStr Reproductive Cycle and Periodicity of In Situ and Aquarium Female Sand Tiger Sharks Carcharias taurus from the Western North Atlantic
title_full_unstemmed Reproductive Cycle and Periodicity of In Situ and Aquarium Female Sand Tiger Sharks Carcharias taurus from the Western North Atlantic
title_sort reproductive cycle and periodicity of in situ and aquarium female sand tiger sharks carcharias taurus from the western north atlantic
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
publishDate 2022
url https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.925749
https://doaj.org/article/1a0bb1737a3f41e8bb8029f87896699e
genre North Atlantic
genre_facet North Atlantic
op_source Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol 9 (2022)
op_relation https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.925749/full
https://doaj.org/toc/2296-7745
2296-7745
doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.925749
https://doaj.org/article/1a0bb1737a3f41e8bb8029f87896699e
op_doi https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.925749
container_title Frontiers in Marine Science
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