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Reproductive strategy of the female deep-water shark birdbeak dogfish, Deania calcea: lecithotrophy or matrotrophy?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 December 2011

Rafaela Barros Paiva*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Animal & Centro de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Bloco C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Ana Neves
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Animal & Centro de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Bloco C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Vera Sequeira
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Animal & Centro de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Bloco C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Maria Leonor Nunes
Affiliation:
Instituto Nacional dos Recursos Biológicos (INRB, I.P./L-IPIMAR), Avenida Brasília, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal
Leonel Serrano Gordo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Animal & Centro de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Bloco C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Narcisa Bandarra
Affiliation:
Instituto Nacional dos Recursos Biológicos (INRB, I.P./L-IPIMAR), Avenida Brasília, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: R.B. Paiva, Departamento de Biologia Animal & Centro de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Bloco C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal email: rcpaiva@fc.ul.pt

Abstract

Little information is available on the maternal–embryonic relationships among sharks. Birdbeak dogfish (Deania calcea) has been described as ovoviviparous, but this term comprises a wide range of forms on how the embryos are nourished including lecithotrophy and matrotrophy. To evaluate the maternal–embryonic relationship in birdbeak dogfish we have analysed chemical features (fatty acid composition and mercury (Hg) levels) and biological characteristics (egg and embryo dry weight variation, uterus characterization). Monounsaturated fatty acids were the dominant fatty acids in eggs while polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were the dominant fatty acids in both pregnant females and embryos. Significant differences were found among eggs, embryos and pregnant females for all fatty acids groups with the exception of saturated fatty acids for embryos and pregnant females. The principal components analysis revealed that embryos are particularly related to n-6 PUFA and pregnant females with n-3 PUFA. A close relationship exists between the Hg level of pregnant females and the Hg level of their embryos which indicates that there is a transfer of mercury from maternal sources. The comparison of the mean dry weight between eggs and embryos showed a gain of 3.8% obtained in the embryos. Histological sections of the uteri of pregnant females showed a high level of both superficial and inner vascularization in the uterine villi as well as the presence of secretor cells. Until now, the importance of this species maternal contribution and interference for the embryos development has never been documented. However, the biological and chemical results observed in the present work show that there is a matrotrophic strategy for the birdbeak dogfish.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2011

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