Scientists document Florida 'virgin births' of endangered sawfish

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Science | Mon Jun 1, 2015 6:31pm EDT

Scientists document Florida 'virgin births' of endangered sawfish

WASHINGTON | BY WILL DUNHAM

Scientists have documented in Florida a series of "virgin births," reproduction without mating, in a critically endangered sawfish species pushed to the brink of extinction by over-fishing and habitat destruction.

The scientists said on Monday it marks the first time the phenomenon called parthenogenesis has been seen in a vertebrate in the wild. Some females may be resorting to asexual reproduction because smalltooth sawfish numbers are so low mating opportunities may not exist, they said.

"There have been a number of cases in reptiles, birds and sharks of 'virgin birth' in captivity," Stony Brook University marine biologist Andrew Fields said. "This raises many questions about how common this mode of reproduction is in the wild."

In parthenogenesis, a female's egg cell can develop into a baby without being fertilized by a male's sperm cell.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/01/us-science-sawfish-idUSKBN0OH3I720150601

[NYC_SKP]

1. If true, this is a remarkable response to the species' threatened environment.

How very cool!

But sad, too.

[Sancho]

2. In FL, you can't use the term "global warming", so I'm sure "virgin birth" is off limits!!

Maybe "sawfish benefits of oil saturated Gulf waters" would be an acceptable substitute.