Are We Family? Investigating the Genomic Impacts of Decades-Long Ecotourism Feeding on Southern Stingrays (Hypanus americanus)
Location
OC Auditorium
Start
4-2-2026 2:25 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral Presentation
Abstract
The Stingray Sandbar site in Grand Cayman hosts an iconic, year-round, largely resident aggregation of southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus), resulting from four decades of daily ecotourism-feeding operations. Since mating has been observed here, there is concern that this multi-decadal human-provisioning may be altering the aggregation’s evolutionary trajectory. I used restriction site-associated DNA sequencing to compare genome-wide variation in the aggregation stingrays and two non-provisioned stingray populations (Bimini, Bahamas and Belize). Stingrays from each of the geographic locations comprise distinct genetic populations. Notably, the probability of detecting a close relative was 2.87X higher in the Caymans aggregation compared to Bimini, with three generations of stingrays represented and one dominant family group. Given the genetic isolation of Grand Cayman stingrays from other Caribbean sites and high degree of relatedness in the aggregation, continued genetic monitoring is recommended to support the Caymanian ecotourism industry while promoting long-term sustainable management of the iconic aggregation.
Are We Family? Investigating the Genomic Impacts of Decades-Long Ecotourism Feeding on Southern Stingrays (Hypanus americanus)
OC Auditorium
The Stingray Sandbar site in Grand Cayman hosts an iconic, year-round, largely resident aggregation of southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus), resulting from four decades of daily ecotourism-feeding operations. Since mating has been observed here, there is concern that this multi-decadal human-provisioning may be altering the aggregation’s evolutionary trajectory. I used restriction site-associated DNA sequencing to compare genome-wide variation in the aggregation stingrays and two non-provisioned stingray populations (Bimini, Bahamas and Belize). Stingrays from each of the geographic locations comprise distinct genetic populations. Notably, the probability of detecting a close relative was 2.87X higher in the Caymans aggregation compared to Bimini, with three generations of stingrays represented and one dominant family group. Given the genetic isolation of Grand Cayman stingrays from other Caribbean sites and high degree of relatedness in the aggregation, continued genetic monitoring is recommended to support the Caymanian ecotourism industry while promoting long-term sustainable management of the iconic aggregation.