Elasmobranch Reproduction and Mating System Evolution The
collapse of shark populations has resulted from the inability of
shark recruitment to keep up with the intense exploitation these
animals are experiencing worldwide. Sharks (and elasmobranchs in
general) are particularly vulnerable to overexploitation due to
their reproductive characteristics (e.g., low fecundity and late
age at maturity) which are more similar to that of mammals than
teleost fishes. Despite the fact that reproductive capacity is
such a pivotal aspect of fisheries management, there is little
information available on mating systems, reproductive
mechanisms, and genetic basis of parentage in sharks, and
elasmobranchs in general. To help increase our understanding of
reproduction in elasmobranchs, GHRI scientists are employing
both field observational methods and genetic profiling (a type
of DNA fingerprinting) to collect basic biological information
on reproduction. Current GHRI research in this area includes
studying the genetic basis o