Steroid hormones as a non-lethal assessment of the reproductive biology in male and female blacktip reef sharks

Abstract

IntroductionOverexploitation of sharks and the destruction of their habitat has led to severe population declines and the need for conservation and management actions. Effective conservation management requires knowledge of the size at which a shark matures and an understanding of their breeding season, fundamental information to maintain appropriate population levels.MethodsHere we used reproductive endocrinology, estrogen and androgen steroids, in combination with rare direct observations of mating, visual monitoring of reproductive status such as gestation and mating scars, as well as parentage analysis, to assess reproductive biology in male and female Chondrichthyans from the wild.Results and discussionLengths at sexual maturity of female and male blacktip reef sharks corresponded closely with plasma 17β-estradiol, testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone measures respectively, but we found considerable variation in androgen levels for mature males. Size at sexual maturity of male and female blacktip reef shark deduced from direct or indirect evidence (mating scars or parentage assignment respectively, corresponded closely with plasma 17β-estradiol, testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone measures respectively, but we found considerable variation in androgen levels for mature males. Females attained sexual maturity from around 121 to 123 cm and males from 104 to 111 cm. The mating season extends from September to February but female 17β-estradiol levels are elevated 1 month prior to mating. Endocrinology has brought additional important information to the reproductive biology and ecology of blacktip reef sharks.