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Jacoby DMP. Mixed management boosts reef shark abundance. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:1066-1067. [PMID: 38769433 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02393-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- David M P Jacoby
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
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2
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Baletaud F, Lecellier G, Gilbert A, Mathon L, Côme JM, Dejean T, Dumas M, Fiat S, Vigliola L. Comparing Seamounts and Coral Reefs with eDNA and BRUVS Reveals Oases and Refuges on Shallow Seamounts. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1446. [PMID: 37998045 PMCID: PMC10669620 DOI: 10.3390/biology12111446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Seamounts are the least known ocean biome. Considered biodiversity hotspots, biomass oases, and refuges for megafauna, large gaps exist in their real diversity relative to other ecosystems like coral reefs. Using environmental DNA metabarcoding (eDNA) and baited video (BRUVS), we compared fish assemblages across five environments of different depths: coral reefs (15 m), shallow seamounts (50 m), continental slopes (150 m), intermediate seamounts (250 m), and deep seamounts (500 m). We modeled assemblages using 12 environmental variables and found depth to be the main driver of fish diversity and biomass, although other variables like human accessibility were important. Boosted Regression Trees (BRT) revealed a strong negative effect of depth on species richness, segregating coral reefs from deep-sea environments. Surprisingly, BRT showed a hump-shaped effect of depth on fish biomass, with significantly lower biomass on coral reefs than in shallowest deep-sea environments. Biomass of large predators like sharks was three times higher on shallow seamounts (50 m) than on coral reefs. The five studied environments showed quite distinct assemblages. However, species shared between coral reefs and deeper-sea environments were dominated by highly mobile large predators. Our results suggest that seamounts are no diversity hotspots for fish. However, we show that shallower seamounts form biomass oases and refuges for threatened megafauna, suggesting that priority should be given to their protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Baletaud
- ENTROPIE, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UR, UNC, IFREMER, CNRS, Centre IRD de Nouméa, 98848 Noumea, New Caledonia, France; (F.B.); (G.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.); (S.F.)
- GINGER SOPRONER, 98000 Noumea, New Caledonia, France;
- GINGER BURGEAP, 69000 Lyon, France;
- MARBEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Gaël Lecellier
- ENTROPIE, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UR, UNC, IFREMER, CNRS, Centre IRD de Nouméa, 98848 Noumea, New Caledonia, France; (F.B.); (G.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.); (S.F.)
- ISEA, University of New Caledonia, 98800 Noumea, New Caledonia, France
| | | | - Laëtitia Mathon
- ENTROPIE, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UR, UNC, IFREMER, CNRS, Centre IRD de Nouméa, 98848 Noumea, New Caledonia, France; (F.B.); (G.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.); (S.F.)
- CEFE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE-PSL, IRD, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Mahé Dumas
- ENTROPIE, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UR, UNC, IFREMER, CNRS, Centre IRD de Nouméa, 98848 Noumea, New Caledonia, France; (F.B.); (G.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.); (S.F.)
| | - Sylvie Fiat
- ENTROPIE, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UR, UNC, IFREMER, CNRS, Centre IRD de Nouméa, 98848 Noumea, New Caledonia, France; (F.B.); (G.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.); (S.F.)
| | - Laurent Vigliola
- ENTROPIE, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UR, UNC, IFREMER, CNRS, Centre IRD de Nouméa, 98848 Noumea, New Caledonia, France; (F.B.); (G.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.); (S.F.)
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3
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Cortelezzi P, Paulet TG, Olbers JM, Harris JM, Bernard ATF. Conservation benefits of a marine protected area on South African chondrichthyans. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 319:115691. [PMID: 35839646 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Chondrichthyans are threatened worldwide due to their life-history traits combined with a plethora of anthropogenic impacts that are causing populations to collapse. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a conservation option, but their efficacy for chondrichthyans is still unclear. Conservation efforts might be challenging especially in developing countries, due to a lack of resources and monitoring and limited data and stakeholder support. Here Baited Remote Underwater Stereo-Video systems (stereo-BRUVs) were deployed inside and outside a small partially protected MPA (Robberg MPA, Western Cape, South Africa) to assess the status of cartilaginous fishes' assemblages and to investigate the potential benefits derived from the presence of a marine reserve. Overall, 19 chondrichthyan species in 11 different families were observed. Chondrichthyans were observed in 78.5% of the sites and, of these, 89.7% of the MPA sites showed at least one chondrichthyan, while only in the 67.5% of surrounding exploited sites a cartilaginous fish was sighted. The presence of the MPA had a significant effect on the relative abundance of batoids, threatened species and local endemics, with more observations inside the MPA than outside, indicating the potential benefit of marine reserves on species that are more vulnerable to fishing pressure. Relative abundance was generally higher inside the bay than in the exposed area, and both relative abundance and species richness decreased significantly with depth. The analysis of the body length showed that the 35.5% of species had an average body length below maturity length, indicating that the area might be used as nursery ground for different species. This study provides evidence that MPAs, even though small and partially protected, can provide benefits for chondrichthyans, specifically to threatened species, endemic species and lesser-known species. Importantly, different environmental parameters must be considered to maximize the benefits an MPA can provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Cortelezzi
- Earth and Environmental Science Department, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza Della Scienza 1, 20126, Milano, Italy; South African Shark Conservancy (SASC), Hermanus, 7200, Western Cape, South Africa.
| | - Timothy G Paulet
- South African Shark Conservancy (SASC), Hermanus, 7200, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Jennifer M Olbers
- Wildlands Conservation Trust, 460 Townbush Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa
| | - Jean M Harris
- Wildlands Conservation Trust, 460 Townbush Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa; Institute for Coastal and Marine Research (CMR), Nelson Mandela University, Gomeroy Avenue, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
| | - Anthony T F Bernard
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Somerset Street, Makhanda, 6139, South Africa; Rhodes University, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Makhanda, 6139, South Africa
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4
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Di Lorenzo M, Calò A, Di Franco A, Milisenda G, Aglieri G, Cattano C, Milazzo M, Guidetti P. Small-scale fisheries catch more threatened elasmobranchs inside partially protected areas than in unprotected areas. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4381. [PMID: 35945205 PMCID: PMC9363485 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32035-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Elasmobranchs are heavily impacted by fishing. Catch statistics are grossly underestimated due to missing data from various fishery sectors such as small-scale fisheries. Marine Protected Areas are proposed as a tool to protect elasmobranchs and counter their ongoing depletion. We assess elasmobranchs caught in 1,256 fishing operations with fixed nets carried out in partially protected areas within Marine Protected Areas and unprotected areas beyond Marine Protected Areas borders at 11 locations in 6 Mediterranean countries. Twenty-four elasmobranch species were recorded, more than one-third belonging to the IUCN threatened categories (Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered). Catches per unit of effort of threatened and data deficient species were higher (with more immature individuals being caught) in partially protected areas than in unprotected areas. Our study suggests that despite partially protected areas having the potential to deliver ecological benefits for threatened elasmobranchs, poor small-scale fisheries management inside Marine Protected Areas could hinder them from achieving this important conservation objective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfredi Di Lorenzo
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Sicily Marine Center, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (complesso Roosevelt), 90149, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Antonio Calò
- Department of Earth and Marine sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Franco
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Sicily Marine Center, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (complesso Roosevelt), 90149, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Giacomo Milisenda
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Sicily Marine Center, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (complesso Roosevelt), 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giorgio Aglieri
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Sicily Marine Center, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (complesso Roosevelt), 90149, Palermo, Italy
- Department of Earth and Marine sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy
- CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Cattano
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Sicily Marine Center, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (complesso Roosevelt), 90149, Palermo, Italy
- Department of Earth and Marine sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy
- CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Milazzo
- Department of Earth and Marine sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy
- CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Guidetti
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn-National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Genoa Marine Centre, 16126, Genoa, Italy
- National Research Council, Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and sustainability in the Marine Environment (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy
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5
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Genomic insights into the historical and contemporary demographics of the grey reef shark. Heredity (Edinb) 2022; 128:225-235. [PMID: 35296830 PMCID: PMC8987070 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-022-00514-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Analyses of genetic diversity can shed light on both the origins of biodiversity hotspots, as well as the conservation status of species that are impacted by human activities. With these objectives, we assembled a genomic dataset of 14,935 single nucleotide polymorphisms from 513 grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) sampled across 17 locations in the tropical Indo-Pacific. We analysed geographic variation in genetic diversity, estimated ancient and contemporary effective population size (Ne) across sampling locations (using coalescent and linkage disequilibrium methods) and modelled the history of gene flow between the Coral Triangle and the Coral Sea. Genetic diversity decreased with distance away from the Coral Triangle and north-western Australia, implying that C. amblyrhynchos may have originated in this region. Increases in Ne were detected across almost all sampling locations 40,000-90,000 generations ago (approximately 0.6-1.5 mya, given an estimated generation time of 16.4 years), suggesting a range expansion around this time. More recent, secondary increases in Ne were inferred for the Misool and North Great Barrier Reef sampling locations, but joint modelling did not clarify whether these were due to population growth, migration, or both. Despite the greater genetic diversity and ancient Ne observed at sites around Australia and the Coral Triangle, remote reefs around north-western New Caledonia had the highest contemporary Ne, demonstrating the importance of using multiple population size assessment methods. This study provides insight into both the past and present demographics of C. amblyrhynchos and contributes to our understanding of evolution in marine biodiversity hotspots.
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6
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Drivers of variation in occurrence, abundance, and behaviour of sharks on coral reefs. Sci Rep 2022; 12:728. [PMID: 35031666 PMCID: PMC8760336 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04024-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantifying the drivers of population size in reef sharks is critical for the development of appropriate conservation strategies. In north-west Australia, shark populations inhabit coral reefs that border growing centres of human population, industry, and tourism. However, we lack baseline data on reef sharks at large spatial scales (hundreds of km) that might enable managers to assess the status of shark populations in the face of future development in this region. Here, we examined the occurrence, abundance and behaviour of apex (Galeocerdo cuvier, Carcharhinus plumbeus) and reef (C. amblyrhynchos, C. melanopterus, Triaenodon obesus) sharks using > 1200 deployments of baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs) across > 500 km of coastline. We found evidence for species-specific influences of habitat and fishing activities on the occurrence (probability of observation), abundance (MaxN) and behaviour of sharks (time of arrival to the stereo-BRUVs and likelihood of feeding). Although the presence of management zoning (No-take areas) made little difference to most species, C. amblyrhynchos were more common further from boat ramps (a proxy of recreational fishing pressure). Time of arrival for all species was also influenced by distance to boat ramp, although patterns varied among species. Our results demonstrate the capacity for behavioural metrics to complement existing measures of occurrence and abundance in assessing the potential impact of human activities on shark populations.
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7
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Nondestructive Monitoring of Soft Bottom Fish and Habitats Using a Standardized, Remote and Unbaited 360° Video Sampling Method. FISHES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/fishes6040050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Lagoon soft-bottoms are key habitats within coral reef seascapes. Coral reef fish use these habitats as nurseries, feeding grounds and transit areas. At present, most soft-bottom sampling methods are destructive (trawling, longlining, hook and line). We developed a remote, unbaited 360° video sampling method (RUV360) to monitor fish species assemblages in soft bottoms. A low-cost, high-definition camera enclosed in a waterproof housing and fixed on a tripod was set on the sea floor in New Caledonia from a boat. Then, 534 videos were recorded to assess the efficiency of the RUV360. The technique was successful in sampling bare soft-bottoms, seagrass beds, macroalgae meadows and mixed soft-bottoms. It is easy to use and particularly efficient, i.e., 88% of the stations were sampled successfully. We observed 10,007 fish belonging to 172 species, including 45 species targeted by fishermen in New Caledonia, as well as many key species. The results are consistent with the known characteristics of the lagoon soft bottom fish assemblages of New Caledonia. We provide future users with general recommendations and reference plots to estimate the proportion of the theoretical total species richness sampled, according to the number of stations or the duration of the footage.
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8
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Guillaume MMM, Séret B. Observations of sharks (Elasmobranchii) at Europa Island, a remote marine protected area important for shark conservation in the southern Mozambique Channel. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253867. [PMID: 34610033 PMCID: PMC8491881 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sharks have declined worldwide and remote sanctuaries are becoming crucial for shark conservation. The southwest Indian Ocean is a hotspot of both terrestrial and marine biodiversity mostly impacted by anthropogenic damage. Sharks were observed during surveys performed from April to June 2013 in the virtually pristine coral reefs around Europa Island, a remote Marine Protected Area located in the southern Mozambique Channel. Observation events comprised 67 1-hour scientific dives between 5 – 35m depth and 7 snorkeling inspections, as well as 4 dinghy-based observations in the shallow lagoon. In a period of 24 days, 475 sharks were tallied. Carcharhinus galapagensis was most encountered and contributed 20% of the abundance during diving, followed by C. albimarginatus (10%). Both species were more abundant between 11-14h, and on the exposed sides of the island. Numbers of Sphyrna lewini were highest with 370 individuals windward and leeward, mostly schooling. S. lewini aggregations in the area are hypothesized to be attracted to the seamount archipelago offering favorable conditions for deep incursions and of which Europa Island forms part. C. amblyrhynchos, Galeocerdo cuvier and S. mokarran were uncommon, while there was an additional observation of Rhincodon typus. The lagoon of Europa was a nursery ground for C. melanopterus where it was the only species present. A total of 8 species was recorded, contributing to the shark diversity of 15 species reported from Europa since 1952 in the scientific and gray literature. Overall, with the occurrence of several species of apex predators in addition to that of R. typus, large schools of S. lewini, fair numbers of reef sharks and a nursery of C. melanopterus, Europa’s sharks constitute a significant reservoir of biodiversity, which contributes to preserve the functioning of the ecosystem. Our observations highlight the relevance of Europa Island for shark conservation and the need for shark-targeted management in the EEZ of both Europa and Bassas da India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireille M. M. Guillaume
- Laboratoire BOrEA MNHN-SU-CNRS-IRD-UCN-UA EcoFunc, Aviv, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence CORAIL, Perpignan, France
- * E-mail:
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9
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Recent expansion of marine protected areas matches with home range of grey reef sharks. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14221. [PMID: 34244536 PMCID: PMC8270914 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93426-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dramatic declines in reef shark populations have been documented worldwide in response to human activities. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) offer a useful mechanism to protect these species and their roles in coral reef ecosystems. The effectiveness of MPAs notably relies on compliance together with sufficient size to encompass animal home range. Here, we measured home range of 147 grey reef sharks, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, using acoustic telemetry in New Caledonia. The distribution of home range was then compared to local MPA sizes. We report a home range of 12 km2 of reef for the species with strong differences between adult males (21 km2), adult females (4.4 km2) and juveniles (6.2 km2 for males, 2.7 km2 for females). Whereas local historic MPA size seemed adequate to protect reef shark home range in general, these were clearly too small when considering adult males only, which is consistent with the reported failure of MPAs to protect sharks in New Caledonia. Fortunately, the recent implementation of several orders of magnitude larger MPAs in New Caledonia and abroad show that recent Indo-Pacific MPAs are now sufficiently large to protect the home ranges of this species, including males, across its geographical range. However, protection efforts are concentrated in a few regions and cannot provide adequate protection at a global scale.
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10
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Espinoza M, Araya-Arce T, Chaves-Zamora I, Chinchilla I, Cambra M. Monitoring elasmobranch assemblages in a data-poor country from the Eastern Tropical Pacific using baited remote underwater video stations. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17175. [PMID: 33057085 PMCID: PMC7560706 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74282-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how threatened species are distributed in space and time can have direct applications to conservation planning. However, implementing standardized methods to monitor populations of wide-ranging species is often expensive and challenging. In this study, we used baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) to quantify elasmobranch abundance and distribution patterns across a gradient of protection in the Pacific waters of Costa Rica. Our BRUVS survey detected 29 species, which represents 54% of the entire elasmobranch diversity reported to date in shallow waters (< 60 m) of the Pacific of Costa Rica. Our data demonstrated that elasmobranchs benefit from no-take MPAs, yet large predators are relatively uncommon or absent from open-fishing sites. We showed that BRUVS are capable of providing fast and reliable estimates of the distribution and abundance of data-poor elasmobranch species over large spatial and temporal scales, and in doing so, they can provide critical information for detecting population-level changes in response to multiple threats such as overfishing, habitat degradation and climate change. Moreover, given that 66% of the species detected are threatened, a well-designed BRUVS survey may provide crucial population data for assessing the conservation status of elasmobranchs. These efforts led to the establishment of a national monitoring program focused on elasmobranchs and key marine megafauna that could guide monitoring efforts at a regional scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Espinoza
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica.
- Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica.
- Museo de Zoología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Tatiana Araya-Arce
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
- Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Isaac Chaves-Zamora
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
- Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Isaac Chinchilla
- Área de Conservación Marina Cocos (ACMCO), Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Marta Cambra
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
- Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
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11
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Garrigue C, Derville S, Bonneville C, Baker CS, Cheeseman T, Millet L, Paton D, Steel D. Searching for humpback whales in a historical whaling hotspot of the Coral Sea, South Pacific. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2020. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae were severely depleted by commercial whaling. Understanding key factors in their recovery is a crucial step for their conservation worldwide. In Oceania, the Chesterfield-Bellona archipelago was a primary whaling site in the 19th century, yet has been left almost unaffected by anthropogenic activities since. We present the results of the first multidisciplinary dedicated surveys in the archipelago assessing humpback whale populations 2 centuries post-whaling. We encountered 57 groups during 24 survey days (2016-2017), among which 35 whales were identified using photographs of natural markings (photo-ID), 38 using genotyping and 22 using both. Humpback whales were sparsely distributed (0.041 whales km-1): most sightings concentrated in shallow inner-reef waters and neighbouring offshore shallow banks. The recently created marine protected area covers most of the areas of high predicted habitat suitability and high residence time from satellite-tracked whales. Surprisingly for a breeding area, sex ratios skewed towards females (1:2.4), and 45% of females were with calf. Connectivity was established with the New Caledonia breeding area to the east (mtDNA FST = 0.001, p > 0.05, 12 photo-ID and 10 genotype matches) and with the Australian Great Barrier Reef breeding area to the west (mtDNA FST = 0.006, p > 0.05). Movement of satellite-tracked whales and photo-ID matches also suggest connections with the east Australian migratory corridor. This study confirms that humpback whales still inhabit the Chesterfield-Bellona archipelago 2 centuries post whaling, and that this pristine area potentially plays a role in facilitating migratory interchange among breeding grounds of the western South Pacific.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Garrigue
- UMR ENTROPIE (IRD, Université de La Réunion, CNRS, Laboratoire d’excellence-CORAIL), Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, IFREMER,98848 Nouméa Cedex, Nouvelle-Calédonie, France
- Opération Cétacés, Nouméa, 98802 Nouvelle-Calédonie, France
| | - S Derville
- UMR ENTROPIE (IRD, Université de La Réunion, CNRS, Laboratoire d’excellence-CORAIL), Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, IFREMER,98848 Nouméa Cedex, Nouvelle-Calédonie, France
- Opération Cétacés, Nouméa, 98802 Nouvelle-Calédonie, France
| | - C Bonneville
- Opération Cétacés, Nouméa, 98802 Nouvelle-Calédonie, France
| | - CS Baker
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - T Cheeseman
- Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia
| | - L Millet
- UMR ENTROPIE (IRD, Université de La Réunion, CNRS, Laboratoire d’excellence-CORAIL), Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, IFREMER,98848 Nouméa Cedex, Nouvelle-Calédonie, France
| | - D Paton
- Blue Planet Marine, Kingston, ACT 2604, Australia
| | - D Steel
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
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12
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Januchowski‐Hartley FA, Vigliola L, Maire E, Kulbicki M, Mouillot D. Low fuel cost and rising fish price threaten coral reef wilderness. Conserv Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fraser A. Januchowski‐Hartley
- UMR 9190 MARBECIRD‐CNRS‐UM‐IFREMER, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) Montpellier Cedex 5 France
- UMR 9220 ENTROPIEInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Centré IRD de Nouméa Nouméa New Caledonia
- Department of Biosciences, College of ScienceSwansea University Abertawe UK
| | - Laurent Vigliola
- UMR 9220 ENTROPIEInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Centré IRD de Nouméa Nouméa New Caledonia
| | - Eva Maire
- UMR 9190 MARBECIRD‐CNRS‐UM‐IFREMER, Université de Montpellier Montpellier Cedex 5 France
- Lancaster Environment CentreLancaster University Lancaster UK
| | - Michel Kulbicki
- UMR 9920 ENTROPIE, Laboratoire Excellence LABEX CorailInstitut de recherche pour le développement Perpignan France
| | - David Mouillot
- UMR 9190 MARBECIRD‐CNRS‐UM‐IFREMER, Université de Montpellier Montpellier Cedex 5 France
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
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13
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Letessier TB, Mouillot D, Bouchet PJ, Vigliola L, Fernandes MC, Thompson C, Boussarie G, Turner J, Juhel JB, Maire E, Caley MJ, Koldewey HJ, Friedlander A, Sala E, Meeuwig JJ. Remote reefs and seamounts are the last refuges for marine predators across the Indo-Pacific. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000366. [PMID: 31386657 PMCID: PMC6684043 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the 1950s, industrial fisheries have expanded globally, as fishing vessels are required to travel further afield for fishing opportunities. Technological advancements and fishery subsidies have granted ever-increasing access to populations of sharks, tunas, billfishes, and other predators. Wilderness refuges, defined here as areas beyond the detectable range of human influence, are therefore increasingly rare. In order to achieve marine resources sustainability, large no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) with pelagic components are being implemented. However, such conservation efforts require knowledge of the critical habitats for predators, both across shallow reefs and the deeper ocean. Here, we fill this gap in knowledge across the Indo-Pacific by using 1,041 midwater baited videos to survey sharks and other pelagic predators such as rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), and black marlin (Istiompax indica). We modeled three key predator community attributes: vertebrate species richness, mean maximum body size, and shark abundance as a function of geomorphology, environmental conditions, and human pressures. All attributes were primarily driven by geomorphology (35%-62% variance explained) and environmental conditions (14%-49%). While human pressures had no influence on species richness, both body size and shark abundance responded strongly to distance to human markets (12%-20%). Refuges were identified at more than 1,250 km from human markets for body size and for shark abundance. These refuges were identified as remote and shallow seabed features, such as seamounts, submerged banks, and reefs. Worryingly, hotpots of large individuals and of shark abundance are presently under-represented within no-take MPAs that aim to effectively protect marine predators, such as the British Indian Ocean Territory. Population recovery of predators is unlikely to occur without strategic placement and effective enforcement of large no-take MPAs in both coastal and remote locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom B. Letessier
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Biological Sciences and The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, (M092), Crawley, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - David Mouillot
- MARBEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Phil J. Bouchet
- School of Biological Sciences and The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, (M092), Crawley, Australia
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Wales
| | - Laurent Vigliola
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR ENTROPIE, LABEX Corail, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Marjorie C. Fernandes
- School of Biological Sciences and The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, (M092), Crawley, Australia
| | - Chris Thompson
- School of Biological Sciences and The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, (M092), Crawley, Australia
| | - Germain Boussarie
- School of Biological Sciences and The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, (M092), Crawley, Australia
- MARBEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR ENTROPIE, LABEX Corail, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Jemma Turner
- School of Biological Sciences and The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, (M092), Crawley, Australia
| | - Jean-Baptiste Juhel
- MARBEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR ENTROPIE, LABEX Corail, Nouméa, New Caledonia
- Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, BPR4, Noumea, New Caledonia
| | - Eva Maire
- MARBEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - M. Julian Caley
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Heather J. Koldewey
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
- Conservation Programmes, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Friedlander
- Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Enric Sala
- Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Jessica J. Meeuwig
- School of Biological Sciences and The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, (M092), Crawley, Australia
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Awruch CA, Somoza GM, Baldock C. Chondrichthyan research in South America: Endocrinology overview and research trends over 50 years (1967-2016) compared to the rest of the world. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 273:118-133. [PMID: 29913167 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The endocrine system plays a crucial role in regulating the activity of cells and organs among vertebrates, including the class Chondrichthyes. Accordingly, Chondrichthyan endocrinology publications have been steadily increasing in the global literature. However, while interest in South American Chondrichthyan research has been growing over the last 50 years, the field of endocrinology related to Chondrichthyans has been limited. Understanding the trajectory of a scientific discipline assists researchers and stakeholders in making decisions regarding which research areas require further attention. Further, visualisation techniques based on bibliometric analysis of scientific publications assist in understanding fluctuations in the trends of specific research fields over time. In this study, Chondrichthyan research publications over time were analysed by creating visualisation maps using VOSviewer bibliometric software. Trends in South America Chondrichthyan research with an emphasis on endocrinology were explored over a 50-year period (1967-2016). These trends were compared with Chondrichthyans research worldwide for the more recent 15-year period (2002-2016). The number of South America Chondrichthyan scientific publications increased from six during the 1967-1981 period to 112 in 2016. However, only eight papers were found published in the area of Chondrichthyan endocrinology research. Fisheries, reproduction and taxonomy were the dominate research areas in South America over the 50 years. For the more recent 15 years, South American publications comprised 11% of the total literature published globally. While South America research outputs fluctuated closely with global research trends, differences appeared when comparing areas of growth. This study describes the trends in Chondrichthyan research literature globally and more specifically in South America. Although South American countries may never contribute to the same scale as the wider international scientific community, the future of Chondrichthyans would strongly benefit from the contributions of the many diverse research groups around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia A Awruch
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia; CESIMAR (Centro Para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos) - CENPAT - CONICET, Puerto Madryn, Chubut U9120ACD, Argentina.
| | - Gustavo M Somoza
- IIB-INTECH (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús, Provincia de Buenos Aires B7130IWA. Argentina
| | - Clive Baldock
- Research Division, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7004, Australia
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15
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Isolation and no-entry marine reserves mitigate anthropogenic impacts on grey reef shark behavior. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2897. [PMID: 30814640 PMCID: PMC6393451 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37145-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Reef sharks are vulnerable predators experiencing severe population declines mainly due to overexploitation. However, beyond direct exploitation, human activities can produce indirect or sub-lethal effects such as behavioral alterations. Such alterations are well known for terrestrial fauna but poorly documented for marine species. Using an extensive sampling of 367 stereo baited underwater videos systems, we show modifications in grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) occurrence and feeding behavior along a marked gradient of isolation from humans across the New Caledonian archipelago (South-Western Pacific). The probability of occurrence decreased by 68.9% between wilderness areas (more than 25 hours travel time from the capital city) and impacted areas while the few individuals occurring in impacted areas exhibited cautious behavior. We also show that only large no-entry reserves (above 150 km²) can protect the behavior of grey reef sharks found in the wilderness. Influencing the fitness, human linked behavioral alterations should be taken into account for management strategies to ensure the persistence of populations.
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16
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Boussarie G, Bakker J, Wangensteen OS, Mariani S, Bonnin L, Juhel JB, Kiszka JJ, Kulbicki M, Manel S, Robbins WD, Vigliola L, Mouillot D. Environmental DNA illuminates the dark diversity of sharks. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaap9661. [PMID: 29732403 PMCID: PMC5931749 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aap9661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In the era of "Anthropocene defaunation," large species are often no longer detected in habitats where they formerly occurred. However, it is unclear whether this apparent missing, or "dark," diversity of megafauna results from local species extirpations or from failure to detect elusive remaining individuals. We find that despite two orders of magnitude less sampling effort, environmental DNA (eDNA) detects 44% more shark species than traditional underwater visual censuses and baited videos across the New Caledonian archipelago (south-western Pacific). Furthermore, eDNA analysis reveals the presence of previously unobserved shark species in human-impacted areas. Overall, our results highlight a greater prevalence of sharks than described by traditional survey methods in both impacted and wilderness areas. This indicates an urgent need for large-scale eDNA assessments to improve monitoring of threatened and elusive megafauna. Finally, our findings emphasize the need for conservation efforts specifically geared toward the protection of elusive, residual populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germain Boussarie
- IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Laboratoire d’Excellence Labex Corail, UMR IRD-UR-CNRS ENTROPIE, Centre IRD de Nouméa, BP A5, 98800 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia, France
- MARBEC, UMR IRD-CNRS-UM-IFREMER 9190, Université de Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex, France
| | - Judith Bakker
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK
| | - Owen S. Wangensteen
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø N-9037, Norway
| | - Stefano Mariani
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK
| | - Lucas Bonnin
- IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Laboratoire d’Excellence Labex Corail, UMR IRD-UR-CNRS ENTROPIE, Centre IRD de Nouméa, BP A5, 98800 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia, France
- MARBEC, UMR IRD-CNRS-UM-IFREMER 9190, Université de Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Juhel
- IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Laboratoire d’Excellence Labex Corail, UMR IRD-UR-CNRS ENTROPIE, Centre IRD de Nouméa, BP A5, 98800 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia, France
- MARBEC, UMR IRD-CNRS-UM-IFREMER 9190, Université de Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex, France
| | - Jeremy J. Kiszka
- Marine Sciences Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 3000 Northeast 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Michel Kulbicki
- IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Laboratoire d’Excellence Labex Corail, UMR IRD-UR-CNRS ENTROPIE, Université de Perpignan, 66860 Perpignan Cedex 9, France
| | - Stephanie Manel
- EPHE, PSL Research University, CNRS, UM, SupAgro, IND, INRA, UMR 5175 CEFE, F- 34293 Montpellier, France
| | - William D. Robbins
- Wildlife Marine, Perth, Western Australia 6020, Australia
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Laurent Vigliola
- IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Laboratoire d’Excellence Labex Corail, UMR IRD-UR-CNRS ENTROPIE, Centre IRD de Nouméa, BP A5, 98800 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia, France
| | - David Mouillot
- MARBEC, UMR IRD-CNRS-UM-IFREMER 9190, Université de Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex, France
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
- Corresponding author.
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17
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First estimates of Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) local abundances in Arctic waters. Sci Rep 2018; 8:974. [PMID: 29343730 PMCID: PMC5772532 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-19115-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Baited remote underwater video cameras were deployed in the Eastern Canadian Arctic, for the purpose of estimating local densities of the long-lived Greenland shark within five deep-water, data-poor regions of interest for fisheries development and marine conservation in Nunavut, Canada. A total of 31 camera deployments occurred between July-September in 2015 and 2016 during joint exploratory fishing and scientific cruises. Greenland sharks appeared at 80% of deployments. A total of 142 individuals were identified and no individuals were observed in more than one deployment. Estimates of Greenland shark abundance and biomass were calculated from averaged times of first arrival, video-derived swimming speed and length data, and local current speed estimates. Density estimates varied 1–15 fold among regions; being highest in warmer (>0 °C), deeper areas and lowest in shallow, sub-zero temperature regions. These baited camera results illustrate the ubiquity of this elusive species and suggest that Nunavut’s Lancaster Sound eco-zone may be of particular importance for Greenland shark, a potentially vulnerable Arctic species.
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