Switch from sexual to parthenogenetic reproduction in a zebra shark

Dudgeon, Christine L.; Coulton, Laura; Bone, Ren; Ovenden, Jennifer R.; Thomas, Séverine

doi:10.1038/srep40537

Cited by 41 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Transient or cyclical production of males by parthenogenetic females have been described in several species (6). In all cases, the production of a sexual form leads to exchange of genetic material, thus introducing genetic diversity in an otherwise clonal population (7)(8)(9)(10)(11). To our knowledge, the reproduction of pseudogamous Mesorhabditis nematodes is a novel and unexpected strategy in which parthenogenetic females produce a low percent of males while males do not provide any genetic diversity to the females.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…To our knowledge, the production of males by parthenogenetic species has been systematically interpreted as developmental errors (because they males are found very rarely) (17) or has been associated with the advantage of mixing parental genomes (6). Thus, cyclical parthenogens combine the advantages of both sexual (mixing genomes) and asexual (clonal expansion) reproduction (7)(8)(9)(10)(11). The case of M. belari shows however that the production of sexual forms cannot be systematically interpreted as a strategy to enhance the genetic diversity of the species.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Why would parthenogenetic females systematically produce males who never transmit their genes to females?

Grosmaire

Launay

Siegwald

et al. 2018

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In pseudogamous species, females use the sperm of males from another species to activate their oocytes and produce females, without using the sperm DNA. Here we report a novel reproductive strategy found in the pseudogamous nematode Mesorhabditis belari, which produces its own males at low frequency. We find that the 8% of M. belari males are necessary to fertilize all oocytes but pass on their genes only to males, and never to females. Thus, the production of males has no impact on the genetic diversity of females. Using game theory, we show that the production of males at low frequency constitutes an efficient strategy only if sons are more likely to mate with their sisters. We validate this prediction experimentally by revealing a mating preference between siblings. We uncover the remarkable reproductive strategy of parthenogenetic females that pay the cost of producing males while males do not spread their genes.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why would parthenogenetic females systematically produce males who never transmit their genes to females?

Grosmaire

Launay

Siegwald

et al. 2018

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…2). Switching between reproductive modes has only been shown twice before in elasmobranchs, and only in captivity (Harmon et al 2016, Dudgeon et al 2017. These are the first cases of individual females switching reproductive modes in the wild.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Insights into reproduction and behavior of the smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata

Feldheim¹,

Fields²,

Chapman³

et al. 2017

Endang. Species. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sawfishes (Family Pristidae) constitute one of the most threatened families of marine fish, and substantial management efforts are required to stabilize and recover their populations worldwide. Philopatry is common in marine animals, including sharks and rays, and can be a key driver of population structure, which in turn determines the most appropriate scale required for effective population assessment and management. We examined philopatry at 2 known smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata nursery sites in the Charlotte Harbor estuarine system, Florida (i.e. Caloosahatchee and Peace rivers) by reconstructing parental genotypes based on composite genotypes from dorsal fin clippings of offspring captured within the nurseries between 2004 and 2015. Of 55 reconstructed females, 45 clearly exhibited philopatry to these nursery sites, most on a biennial cycle. Thirty-four females gave birth in the Caloosahatchee River, 19 gave birth in the Peace River, and 2 females used both nurseries for parturition. Nine females have been giving birth at these sites for a decade or more. Two females produced offspring with the same male over consecutive breeding seasons and one other pair of parents was identified at a 6 yr interval, suggesting that females store sperm, use an unknown mating aggregation site, or both. Male genotypes (n = 192) were rarely seen more than once at these nurseries (n = 7). However, some males mated in consecutive years, and successfully with multiple females within years. Evidence of parturition site fidelity by smalltooth sawfish in Florida likely extends the time before range expansion would be expected.

show abstract

“…facultative parthenogenesis - FP) was first mentioned in the late 1800s for birds [12]. FP have been reported in various species of major vertebrate groups including reptiles, birds and elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) [4,9,13,14]. Most FP events were documented from captive females after long periods without contact to male conspecifics during their reproductive lifetime [8,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the reproductive viability of parthenogenetic offspring was observed in some species, which highlights the ecological and evolutionary significance of this reproductive strategy [15]. Nevertheless, the biological basis and mechanisms underlying parthenogenesis remain mostly unknown [4,9,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA-validated parthenogenesis: first case in a captive female Cuban boa (Chilabothrus angulifer)

Seixas

Morinha

Luis³

et al. 2019

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

17 Parthenogenesis is a biological process of asexual reproduction. Recent studies have 18 highlighted the significance of this fascinating phenomenon in the vertebrate evolution. 19 Although parthenogenetic reproduction appears to be widespread among reptiles, a 20 restricted number of cases were reported in captivity and wild. Here, we studied and 21 reported an intriguing case of a 20-year old captive female Cuban boa (Chilabothrus 22 angulifer), from the Zoo da Maia (Maia, Portugal) collection, isolated from conspecifics -2 -23 males, that gave birth twice in 4 years. The neonates from both deliveries, one fresh and 24 the other fixed in formalin, were submitted to histopathological and molecular genetic 25 analysis. Both neonates were homozygous for the loci analyzed, carrying only mother 26 alleles. Furthermore, morphological abnormalities (anophthalmia) were observed in the 27 second neonate. Our data support a pattern of parthenogenetic reproduction. This is the 28 first documented case of facultative parthenogenesis in a Cuban boa, which can be of 29 great interest for further research on ecology, evolution, captive breeding and 30 conservation of the species. 31 32 33 34 Introduction 35 Parthenogenesis is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which offspring is 36 produced from unfertilized eggs [1,2]. This uncommon reproductive strategy was 37 reported in less than 0.1% of vertebrate species, including a wide range of taxa (i.e. 38 fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals), even in wild populations [1-5]. 39 Parthenogenetic reproductive events have caught the attention of evolutionary and 40 conservation biologists, since the absence of genetic recombination accelerate the 41 accumulation of deleterious mutations in parthenogenetic individuals, which have 42 considerable implications for the management and conservation of the species [6-8]. 43Obligate parthenogenesis is a biological process where all individuals within a 44 species reproduce asexually [2,9]. This reproductive strategy is restricted to Squamate 45 reptiles, being reported in various lizards' species and one snake (Indotyphlops 46 braminus) [9][10][11]. The occasional occurrence of parthenogenesis in individuals of a -3 -47 species that normally reproduce sexually (i.e. facultative parthenogenesis -FP) was first 48 mentioned in the late 1800s for birds [12]. FP have been reported in various species of 49 major vertebrate groups including reptiles, birds and elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) 50 [4,9,13,14]. Most FP events were documented from captive females after long periods 51 without contact to male conspecifics during their reproductive lifetime [8,9]. However, 52 parthenogenesis has more recently been reported in wild snake populations [3,15] and 53 females housed with males [16], suggesting that its occurrence may be more frequent 54 than previously thought in vertebrates. In addition, the reproductive viability of 55 parthenogenetic offspring was observed in some species, which highlights the 56 ecological and evolution...

show abstract

Switch from sexual to parthenogenetic reproduction in a zebra shark

Cited by 41 publications

References 36 publications

Why would parthenogenetic females systematically produce males who never transmit their genes to females?

Why would parthenogenetic females systematically produce males who never transmit their genes to females?

Insights into reproduction and behavior of the smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata

DNA-validated parthenogenesis: first case in a captive female Cuban boa (Chilabothrus angulifer)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About