MEPS

Marine Ecology Progress Series

MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

Impact Factor2.1 (JCR 2025 release)

Article Acceptance Rate52.2% (2024)

Average Time in Review216 days (2024)

Total Annual Downloads2.749.288 (2025)

Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 670:155-166 (2021)

Genetic evidence from embryos suggests a new species of skate related to Bathyraja parmifera (Rajiformes: Arhynchobatidae) in the Bering Sea

ABSTRACT: Several new species of oviparous skates of the genus Bathyraja have been identified over the past 2 decades, yet it is possible that a complete understanding of species diversity among this group has not been achieved. We used genetics and morphology to screen for the presence of species-level differentiation among embryos from nursery areas in the eastern Bering Sea that were initially identified as the Alaska skate B. parmifera. A sample of 57 embryos from Pervenets Canyon differed significantly at single nucleotide polymorphism loci from 297 other B. parmifera samples, and differences were on the order of those observed between B. parmifera and the leopard skate B. panthera. This sample of embryos was similar to B. parmifera at the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial locus. We discuss whether this group of embryos may represent an undescribed cryptic species. Although morphological description of adults is required for a complete species description, only embryo samples were available. Even so, results presented here are a step toward understanding, managing, and conserving the diversity of skate species in the North Pacific Ocean.

KEYWORDS

Ingrid Spies (Corresponding Author)

  • Resource Ecology and Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
ingrid.spies@noaa.gov

James W. Orr (Co-author)

  • Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA

Duane E. Stevenson (Co-author)

  • Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA

Pamela Goddard (Co-author)

  • Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA

Gerald R. Hoff (Co-author)

  • Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA

Jared Guthridge (Co-author)

  • Alaska SeaLife Center, PO Box 1329, 301 Railway Ave, Seward, AK 99664, USA

Christopher N. Rooper (Co-author)

  • Stock Assessment and Research Division, Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N7, Canada