The origin of a population of great white sharks (GWS), Carcharodon carcharias, L.1758, residing in the Mediterranean Sea has remained a mystery despite repeated scientific endeavours to retrace their history. Here we analyze 18 historical specimens (30-180 years old) collected from several museums, research institutes and private collections in Italy, creating the largest dataset of Mediterranean GWS mitochondrial DNA gene sequences (i.e. D-loop and COI). Comparative phylogenetic analyses of the Mediterranean GWS with populations from global range suggested a closer evolutionary relationship with sharks in Australia- New Zealand, Japan and the Pacific US rather than to the South-African population. Estimates of the most recent common ancestor carried out using internal calibration with fossil and paleo-geographical data revealed that Mediterranean GWS population originated in the early Pliocene at the end of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (ca. 5.3 MYA). This dating supports a GWS historical long-dispersal and paleo-colonization of the Mediterranean via a route of migration through Central America, before the formation of the Isthmus of Panama in contrast with a ad hoc previous hypothesis which suggested a colonization via South Africa due to navigational errors during past climatic oscillations.
Leone A., Puncher G.N., Cariani A., Sperone E., Tripepi S., Micarelli P., et al. (2013). Novel insights into the origin of Mediterranean Great White Shark population from ancient mtDNA gene variation.
Novel insights into the origin of Mediterranean Great White Shark population from ancient mtDNA gene variation
LEONE, AGOSTINO;PUNCHER, GREGORY NEILS;CARIANI, ALESSIA;MINELLI, DANIELA;CILLI, ELISABETTA;TINTI, FAUSTO
2013
Abstract
The origin of a population of great white sharks (GWS), Carcharodon carcharias, L.1758, residing in the Mediterranean Sea has remained a mystery despite repeated scientific endeavours to retrace their history. Here we analyze 18 historical specimens (30-180 years old) collected from several museums, research institutes and private collections in Italy, creating the largest dataset of Mediterranean GWS mitochondrial DNA gene sequences (i.e. D-loop and COI). Comparative phylogenetic analyses of the Mediterranean GWS with populations from global range suggested a closer evolutionary relationship with sharks in Australia- New Zealand, Japan and the Pacific US rather than to the South-African population. Estimates of the most recent common ancestor carried out using internal calibration with fossil and paleo-geographical data revealed that Mediterranean GWS population originated in the early Pliocene at the end of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (ca. 5.3 MYA). This dating supports a GWS historical long-dispersal and paleo-colonization of the Mediterranean via a route of migration through Central America, before the formation of the Isthmus of Panama in contrast with a ad hoc previous hypothesis which suggested a colonization via South Africa due to navigational errors during past climatic oscillations.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
