Tiger sharks appear to be genetically monogamous – and it could be putting the species at risk.
University of Queensland research has found tiger sharks differ from many other sharks in that they don’t use multiple paternity as a reproductive strategy.
UQ researcher Dr Bonnie Holmes said multiple paternity occurred when a single litter of offspring was fertilised by multiple males, resulting in pups from the same brood having different fathers – which may ultimately increase the genetic diversity of a species.
