2017/01/16 by Christine L. Dudgeon, Laura Coulton, Ren Bone +2 · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · #Evolution and Genetic Dynamics #Genetic diversity and population structure #Fish Ecology and Management Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/srep40537
openalex publication_date 2017/01/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Parthenogenesis is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which embryos develop in the absence of fertilisation. Most commonly found in plants and invertebrate organisms, an increasing number of vertebrate species have recently been reported employing this reproductive strategy. Here we use DNA genotyping to report the first demonstration of an intra-individual switch from sexual to parthenogenetic reproduction in a shark species, the zebra shark Stegostoma fasciatum. A co-housed, sexually produced daughter zebra shark also commenced parthenogenetic reproduction at the onset of maturity without any prior mating. The demonstration of parthenogenesis in these two conspecific individuals with different sexual histories provides further support that elasmobranch fishes may flexibly adapt their reproductive strategy to environmental circumstances.