Page 1 - DNAfromhistorical

Vol. 27: 233–241, 2015 ENDANGERED SPECIES RESEARCH Published online April 29
doi: 10.3354/esr00665 Endang Species Res
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DNA from historical and trophy samples
provides insights into white shark population

origins and genetic diversity

Chrysoula Gubili1,9,*, Cory E. C. Robinson1,*, Geremy Cliff2, Sabine P. Wintner2,
Eleonora de Sabata3, Sabina De Innocentiis4, Simonepietro Canese4,

David W. Sims5,6,7, Andrew P. Martin8, Leslie R. Noble1,**, Catherine S. Jones1,**,***

1Institute of Biological and Environmental Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building,
Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK

2KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, Private Bag 2, Umhlanga Rocks 4320, and Biomedical Resource Unit,
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa
3MedSharks, via Ruggero Fauro 82, 00197 Rome, Italy

4Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Marine Molecular Biology Lab (BMM),
via Vitaliano Brancati 60, 00166 Rome, Italy

5Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
6Marine Biology and Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus,

Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
7Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus,

European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
8Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, N122 Ramaley, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA

9Present address: Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo 2936,
Manaus, AM 69060-001, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Characterizing genetic variation by retrospective genotyping of trophy or historical
artifacts from endangered species is an important conservation tool. Loss of genetic diversity in
top predators such as the white shark Carcharodon carcharias remains an issue, exacerbated in
this species by declining, sometimes isolated philopatric populations. We successfully sequenced
mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop from osteodentine of contemporary South African white
shark teeth (from 3 jaws), and from 34 to 129 yr old dried cartilage and skin samples from 1 Pacific
Ocean and 5 Mediterranean sharks. Osteodentine-derived sequences from South African fish
matched those derived from an individual’s finclips, but were generally of poorer quality than
those from skin and cartilage of historical samples. Three haplotypes were identified from histor-
ical Mediterranean samples (n = 5); 2 individuals had unique sequences and 3 shared the contem-
porary Mediterranean haplotype. Placement of previously undescribed mtDNA haplotypes from
historical material within both the Mediterranean and Pacific clades fits with the accepted intra-
specific phylogeny derived from contemporary material, verifying our approaches. The utility of
our methodology is in its provision of additional genetic resources from osteodentine (for species
lacking tooth pulp) and cartilage of rare and endangered species held in often uncurated, contem-
porary and historical dry collections. Such material can usefully supplement estimates of connec-
tivity, population history, and stock viability. We confirm the depauperate haplotype diversity of
historical Mediterranean sharks, consistent with founding by a small number of Pacific colonizers.
The consequent lack of diversity suggests serious challenges for the maintenance of this top pred-
ator and the Mediterranean ecosystem.

KEY WORDS: Teeth · White shark · Carcharodon carcharias · Museum specimens · Mitochondrial
DNA · Genotyping · Mediterranean · Cartilage · Osteodentine

*Authors contributed equally © The authors 2015. Open Access under Creative Commons by
**Joint last authors Attribution Licence. Use, distribution and reproduction are un-
restricted. Authors and original publication must be credited.
***Corresponding author: c.s.jones@abdn.ac.uk Publisher: Inter-Research · www.int-res.com