High-tech conservation: combining oceanography, transcriptome and genomics to assess population genetic connectivity and local adaptation of the highly migratory Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the Atlantic Ocean

• Grant number: 17/02420-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Fernandes Mendonça
• Grantee: Rodrigo Rodrigues Domingues
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/21319-9 - Use of omics and bioinformatics tools for detect local adaptation of the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Pelagic sharks representing only about 6% of the world's total Chondrichthyes and are among the largest and most wide-ranging predators in the ocean. These species play a critical role in keeping the oceans healthy and in balance. However, pelagic sharks have been caught severely by the longline fisheries worldwide. In particular, this project will focus one of the most important species in terms of catches and economic value, the shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), which is the second highest proportion of shark species in the international fin trade and are also highly prized game fish. Thus, improving the conservation of shark populations is a focal issue in international fisheries as a result of strong concerns regarding the major decline of these caused by directed fishing and bycatch. In this project will be addressed gaps in life history information for highly migratory and overfished shortfin Mako. Specifically, will be used high tech genetic research such as transcriptome characterization and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) to provide a better understanding of the molecular-level functions, as for example physiological process related to local adaptation and test for stock assignment analysis, and advance knowledge of connectivity among populations taking into the account oceanographic features. This Project will therefore provide imperative missing information for the Atlantic populations of this important shark species, which will be disseminated to both scientists and fishery managers. By the end of this Project, will be expected to have significantly contributed to a more responsible and sustainable exploitation of this vulnerable and important marine resource in the pelagic ecosystem. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DA SILVA FERRETTE, BRUNO LOPES; DOMINGUES, RODRIGO RODRIGUES; ROTUNDO, MATHEUS MARCOS; MIRANDA, MARINA PROVETTI; BUNHOLI, INGRID VASCONCELLOS; DE BIASI, JULIANA BELTRAMIN; OLIVEIRA, CLAUDIO; FORESTI, FAUSTO; MENDONCA, FERNANDO FERNANDES. DNA Barcode Reveals the Bycatch of Endangered Batoids Species in the Southwest Atlantic: Implications for Sustainable Fisheries Management and Conservation Efforts. GENES, v. 10, n. 4, APR 2019. (11/23787-0, 17/02420-8)

DA SILVA FERRETTE, BRUNO LOPES; DOMINGUES, RODRIGO RODRIGUES; FREGADOLLI USSAMI, LUIS HENRIQUE; MORAES, LETICIA; MAGALHAES, CAROLINA DE OLIVEIRA; DE AMORIM, ALBERTO FERREIRA; SILVA HILSDORF, ALEXANDRE WAGNER; OLIVEIRA, CLAUDIO; FORESTI, FAUSTO; MENDONCA, FERNANDO FERNANDES. DNA-based species identification of shark finning seizures in Southwest Atlantic: implications for wildlife trade surveillance and law enforcement. BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION, v. 28, n. 14, p. 4007-4025, DEC 2019. (11/23787-0, 17/02420-8, 09/54660-6)

DOMINGUES, RODRIGO R.; MASTROCHIRICO-FILHO, VITO ANTONIO; MENDES, NATALIA J.; HASHIMOTO, DIOGO T.; COELHO, RUI; ANTUNES, AGOSTINHO; FORESTI, FAUSTO; MENDONCA, FERNANDO F.. Gene-associated markers as a genomic and transcriptomic resource for a highly migratory and apex predator shark (Isurus oxyrinchus). Marine Biology, v. 169, n. 9, p. 12-pg., 2022-09-01. (14/19740-7, 17/02420-8, 19/10201-0)

DOMINGUES, RODRIGO RODRIGUES; BUNHOLI, INGRID VASCONCELLOS; PINHAL, DANILLO; ANTUNES, AGOSTINHO; MENDONCA, FERNANDO FERNANDES. From molecule to conservation: DNA-based methods to overcome frontiers in the shark and ray fin trade. CONSERVATION GENETICS RESOURCES, v. 13, n. 2, p. 231-247, JUN 2021. (18/21319-9, 17/02420-8)

PINHAL, DANILLO; DOMINGUES, RODRIGO R.; BRUELS, CHRISTINE C.; FERRETTE, BRUNO L. S.; GADIG, OTTO B. F.; SHIVJI, MAHMOOD S.; MARTINS, CESAR. Restricted connectivity and population genetic fragility in a globally endangered Hammerhead Shark. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, v. 30, n. 3, JUN 2020. (07/03067-8, 07/03065-5, 17/02420-8)

DOMINGUES, RODRIGO R.; MASTROCHIRICO-FILHO, VITO ANTONIO; MENDES, NATALIA J.; HASHIMOTO, DIOGO T.; COELHO, RUI; DA CRUZ, VANESSA PAES; ANTUNES, AGOSTINHO; FORESTI, FAUSTO; MENDONCA, FERNANDO F.. Comparative eye and liver differentially expressed genes reveal monochromatic vision and cancer resistance in the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus). Genomics, v. 112, n. 6, p. 4817-4826, NOV 2020. (17/02420-8, 14/19740-7, 18/21319-9)

DOMINGUES, RODRIGO R.; GARRONE-NETO, DOMINGOS; HILSDORF, ALEXANDRE W. S.; GADIG, OTTO B. F.. Use of mucus as a non-invasive sampling method for DNA barcoding of stingrays and skates (batoid elasmobranchs). Journal of Fish Biology, v. 94, n. 3, p. 512-516, MAR 2019. (11/18513-9, 17/02420-8, 13/08675-7)