Abstract The high level of exploitation and slow population growth rates of many elasmobranch species are causing worldwide concern about their status. Genetic methods offer the potential to gather information on the stock structure and conservation status of species with implications in the delineation of appropriate management units. However, despite several calls from the scientific community, they are still largely ignored in fisheries management. Here, we use genetic approaches to assess the population structure of the cuckoo ray (Leucoraja naevus), a species of skate that was recently designated as vulnerable in Irish waters by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. By genotyping individuals (n = 188) originating from a vast geographic area with nine microsatellite markers, we do not find evidence of population structuring but cuckoo rays in Irish waters seem to belong to a single genetically diverse panmictic population despite the restricted movements observed in closely related species. Cuckoo rays should therefore continue to be monitored as a single stock in this area.

中文翻译：

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遗传方法揭示了东北大西洋北部杜鹃鳐（Leucoraja naevus）的高度多样性和种群结构的证据

摘要 许多弹鳃物种的高度开发和缓慢的种群增长率引起了全世界对其现状的关注。遗传方法提供了收集种群结构和物种保护状况信息的潜力，这些信息对划定适当的管理单位有影响。然而，尽管科学界多次呼吁，但在渔业管理中，它们在很大程度上仍被忽视。在这里，我们使用遗传方法来评估杜鹃鳐（Leucoraja naevus）的种群结构，这是一种最近被国际自然保护联盟指定为爱尔兰水域易危物种的鳐。通过对来自具有九个微卫星标记的广阔地理区域的个体 (n = 188) 进行基因分型，我们没有发现种群结构的证据，但尽管在密切相关的物种中观察到的运动受到限制，但爱尔兰水域中的杜鹃魟似乎属于单一的遗传多样性种群。因此，杜鹃射线应继续作为该地区的单一种群进行监测。