August 12, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Skates are an important predator and widely distributed across Alaska marine ecosystems. There is interest in developing commercial fisheries for them. However, skates are vulnerable to fishing impacts because they typically develop slowly and do not reproduce until later in life. Science can provide a basis for ensuring sustainable fishery development and helping to protect critical life stages and habitat.
NOAA Fisheries scientists conducted an important genetic study using next-generation gene sequencing of skates in Alaska. It confirms that egg case nurseries are essential to the genetic diversity and evolutionary success of these shark relatives. It also revealed something unexpected.
”We set out to use genetic analysis to find out how the two most abundant skate species in the Bering Sea are using nursery areas. How important is each nursery area? Are different nurseries used by distinct components of each species?” said Ingrid Spies, biologist at NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center, who led the study. “We found answers to our questions, and a surprising result.
Did we accidentally discover a new species?”