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Paxton AB, Foxfoot IR, Cutshaw C, Steward DN, Poussard L, Riley TN, Swannack TM, Piercy CD, Altman S, Puckett BJ, Storlazzi CD, Viehman TS. Evidence on the ecological and physical effects of built structures in shallow, tropical coral reefs: a systematic map. ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE 2024; 13:12. [PMID: 39294693 PMCID: PMC11378790 DOI: 10.1186/s13750-024-00336-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shallow, tropical coral reefs face compounding threats from climate change, habitat degradation due to coastal development and pollution, impacts from storms and sea-level rise, and pulse disturbances like blast fishing, mining, dredging, and ship groundings that reduce reef height and complexity. One approach toward restoring coral reef physical structure from such impacts is deploying built structures of artificial, natural, or hybrid (both artificial and natural) origin. Built structures range from designed modules and repurposed materials to underwater sculptures and intentionally placed natural rocks. Restoration practitioners and coastal managers increasingly consider incorporating - and in many cases have already begun to incorporate - built structures into coral reef-related applications, yet synthesized evidence on the ecological (coral-related; e.g., coral growth, coral survival) and physical performance of built structures in coral ecosystems across a variety of contexts (e.g., restoration, coastal protection, mitigation, tourism) is not readily available to guide decisions. To help fill this gap and inform management decisions, we systematically mapped the global distribution and abundance of published evidence on the ecological (coral-related) and physical performance of built structure interventions in shallow (≤ 30 m), tropical (35°N to 35°S) coral ecosystems. METHODS To identify potentially relevant articles, we used predefined and tested strategies to search two indexing platforms, one bibliographic database, two open discovery citation indexes, one web-based search engine, one novel literature discovery tool, 19 organizational websites, and information requested from stakeholders. Discovered articles were screened according to preset eligibility criteria first by title and abstract and second by full text. Articles included during full text screening were coded to extract metadata following a predefined framework. We analyzed and visualized the evidence base to answer our primary and secondary research questions and to identify knowledge clusters and gaps. Findings are reported in a narrative synthesis. RESULTS Our search discovered > 20,000 potentially relevant unique articles, of which 258 were included in the systematic map. The evidence base spans 50 countries, and the volume of evidence increased over the past five decades. Built structures were most commonly installed for coral restoration (61%) or coastal protection (12%). Structures were predominately characterized as artificial (87%), with fewer hybrid or natural interventions. Evidence clusters existed for intentionally designed artificial structures and outcomes associated with coral-related ecological performance, including coral mortality, growth, recruitment, cover, and diversity. Pronounced evidence gaps occurred at the intersection of several ecological coral-related performance outcomes (e.g., connectivity, microbiome) across all types of built structures; gaps also existed across most ecological coral-related outcomes for artwork and repurposed artificial structures. Physical performance of built structures was most frequently evaluated for outcomes related to waves (n = 14) and sediment and morphology (n = 11) with pervasive evidence gaps across other outcomes like storm surge and water level. CONCLUSIONS While the systematic map highlighted several evidence clusters, it also revealed pronounced evidence gaps surrounding the coral-related ecological and physical performance of built structures in coral ecosystems. The compiled evidence base will help inform policy, management, and future consideration of built structures in reef-related applications, including habitat restoration, environmental mitigation, and coastal protection. Map findings also point to promising future research avenues, such as investigating seascape-scale ecological effects of and the physical performance of built structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avery B Paxton
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC, 28516, USA.
| | - Iris R Foxfoot
- U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, 39180, USA
- UIC Government Services, 6564 Loisdale Ct #900, Springfield, VA, 22150, USA
| | - Christina Cutshaw
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC, 28516, USA
- CSS-Inc, 10301 Democracy Lane, Suite 300, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - D'amy N Steward
- CSS-Inc, 10301 Democracy Lane, Suite 300, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Leanne Poussard
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC, 28516, USA
| | - Trevor N Riley
- Central Library, Office of Science Support, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East‑West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Todd M Swannack
- U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, 39180, USA
| | - Candice D Piercy
- U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, 39180, USA
| | - Safra Altman
- U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, 39180, USA
| | - Brandon J Puckett
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC, 28516, USA
| | - Curt D Storlazzi
- Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 2885 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - T Shay Viehman
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC, 28516, USA
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Paxton AB, McGonigle C, Damour M, Holly G, Caporaso A, Campbell PB, Meyer-Kaiser KS, Hamdan LJ, Mires CH, Taylor JC. Shipwreck ecology: Understanding the function and processes from microbes to megafauna. Bioscience 2024; 74:12-24. [PMID: 38313562 PMCID: PMC10831220 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biad084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
An estimated three million shipwrecks exist worldwide and are recognized as cultural resources and foci of archaeological investigations. Shipwrecks also support ecological resources by providing underwater habitats that can be colonized by diverse organisms ranging from microbes to megafauna. In the present article, we review the emerging ecological subdiscipline of shipwreck ecology, which aims to understand ecological functions and processes that occur on shipwrecks. We synthesize how shipwrecks create habitat for biota across multiple trophic levels and then describe how fundamental ecological functions and processes, including succession, zonation, connectivity, energy flow, disturbance, and habitat degradation, manifest on shipwrecks. We highlight future directions in shipwreck ecology that are ripe for exploration, placing a particular emphasis on how shipwrecks may serve as experimental networks to address long-standing ecological questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avery B Paxton
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States
| | - Christopher McGonigle
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
| | - Melanie Damour
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Georgia Holly
- Edinburgh Marine Archaeology, School of History, Classics, and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Alicia Caporaso
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Peter B Campbell
- Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, England, United Kingdom
| | | | - Leila J Hamdan
- School of Ocean Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, United States
| | - Calvin H Mires
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States
| | - J Christopher Taylor
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States
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Le Croizier G, Lorrain A, Hoyos-Padilla M, Ketchum JT, Amezcua-Martínez F, Le Loc'h F, Munaron JM, Schaal G, Point D. Do marine protected areas influence mercury exposure? Insights from a shark community in the tropical Northeast Pacific. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 336:122352. [PMID: 37562525 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Biomass depletion caused by overfishing is likely to alter the structure of food webs and impact mercury transfer to marine predators. Although marine protected areas (MPAs) are spared from fishing pressure, their influence on biota mercury levels is poorly understood. Here, we used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope compositions as well as mercury concentrations in fin clips to characterize foraging habitat and mercury exposure of a shark community composed of migratory and resident species of the Revillagigedo archipelago, an offshore MPA in the Northeast Pacific off Mexico. We found that the probability of finding migratory sharks in the isotopic niche of Revillagigedo-resident sharks was low, likely reflecting the use of habitats outside the archipelago by highly mobile species. Community-wide variations in mercury were primarily explained by shark length, revealing that bioaccumulation was the main driver of Hg concentrations. We failed to detect a clear effect of foraging habitat on shark mercury exposure, which may be related to migratory species using both exploited and protected areas when moving outside the Revillagigedo MPA. More similar studies on the potential mitigation of Hg contamination by MPAs are needed in the future if fishing pressure increases to satisfy the growing global human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Le Croizier
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Joel Montes Camarena S/N, Mazatlán, Sin, 82040, Mexico.
| | - Anne Lorrain
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Mauricio Hoyos-Padilla
- Pelagios-Kakunjá A.C, Sinaloa 1540, Col. Las Garzas, C.P. 23070, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico; Fins Attached: Marine Research and Conservation, 19675 Still Glen Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80908, USA
| | - James T Ketchum
- Pelagios-Kakunjá A.C, Sinaloa 1540, Col. Las Garzas, C.P. 23070, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico; MigraMar, Bodega Bay, CA, USA; Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Noroeste (CIBNOR), La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
| | - Felipe Amezcua-Martínez
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Joel Montes Camarena S/N, Mazatlán, Sin, 82040, Mexico
| | | | | | - Gauthier Schaal
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280, Plouzané, France
| | - David Point
- UMR Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Observatoire Midi Pyrénées (OMP), 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400, Toulouse, France
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New Occurrences of the Tiger Shark ( Galeocerdo cuvier) (Carcharhinidae) off the Coast of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil: Seasonality Indications. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12202774. [PMID: 36290161 PMCID: PMC9597784 DOI: 10.3390/ani12202774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier (Péron & Lesueur, 1822) (Carcharhinidae) is classified as near-threatened along the Brazilian coast, in line with its global categorization. Although Rio de Janeiro, located in southeastern Brazil, is internationally identified as a priority shark conservation area, many shark species, including tiger sharks, are landed by both industrial and artisanal fisheries in this state. However, there is a lack of detailed information on the species capture pressures and records for the state of Rio de Janeiro. Therefore, the aims of this study were to expand the tiger shark record database and to improve upon future conservation and management strategies. Tiger shark records from four coastal Rio de Janeiro regions were obtained by direct observation. The information obtained from fishery colonies/associations, environmental guards, researchers, and scientific articles, totaling 23 records, resulted in an approximately 5-fold increase in the number of tiger shark records off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro. A possible seasonality pattern concerning the size of the captured/observed animals was noted, emphasizing the need to consider the coast of Rio de Janeiro as an especially relevant area for at least part of the life history of tiger sharks.
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Bohaboy EC, Cass-Calay SL, Patterson WF. Fine-scale movement of northern Gulf of Mexico red snapper and gray triggerfish estimated with three-dimensional acoustic telemetry. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14274. [PMID: 35995813 PMCID: PMC9395330 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18451-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: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Red snapper and gray triggerfish are ecologically, economically, and culturally important reef fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM). Scientists and managers have sought to understand the effects of artificial reefs on reef fish ecology by focusing on fish residency and movement at artificial reefs with less attention paid to broader spatial and temporal patterns in reef fish movements among a seascape of artificial reefs and other natural habitats. We used novel large-scale (> 15 km2) geopositioning acoustic telemetry arrays to track the 3-dimensional movements of tagged red snapper (n = 59) and gray triggerfish (n = 15) among multiple nGOM artificial reefs up to 333 days. Tagged fish moved frequently among artificial reefs and had shorter residence times at the release reef (43 days for red snapper and 3 days for gray triggerfish) than reported in previous studies. Both species displayed high individual variability in movement dynamics, as well as seasonally variable diel patterns of habitat use, height above bottom, and distance to reefs, which may have been driven by dynamic influences of predation risk, physiological constraints, or foraging over time and space. The wider seascape view revealed in this study demonstrates the importance of including multiple artificial reefs over long timescales to capture individual, spatial, and temporal variability in reef fish movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin C Bohaboy
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA. .,National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI, 96818, USA.
| | - Shannon L Cass-Calay
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - William F Patterson
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA
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Lubitz N, Bradley M, Sheaves M, Hammerschlag N, Daly R, Barnett A. The role of context in elucidating drivers of animal movement. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9128. [PMID: 35898421 PMCID: PMC9309038 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite its consequences for ecological processes and population dynamics, intra-specific variability is frequently overlooked in animal movement studies. Consequently, the necessary resolution to reveal drivers of individual movement decisions is often lost as animal movement data are aggregated to infer average or population patterns. Thus, an empirical understanding of why a given movement pattern occurs remains patchy for many taxa, especially in marine systems. Nonetheless, movement is often rationalized as being driven by basic life history requirements, such as acquiring energy (feeding), reproduction, predator-avoidance, and remaining in suitable environmental conditions. However, these life history requirements are central to every individual within a species and thus do not sufficiently account for the high intra-specific variability in movement behavior and hence fail to fully explain the occurrence of multiple movement strategies within a species. Animal movement appears highly context dependent as, for example, within the same location, the behavior of both resident and migratory individuals is driven by life history requirements, such as feeding or reproduction, however different movement strategies are utilized to fulfill them. A systematic taxa-wide approach that, instead of averaging population patterns, incorporates and utilizes intra-specific variability to enable predictions as to which movement patterns can be expected under a certain context, is needed. Here, we use intra-specific variability in elasmobranchs as a case study to introduce a stepwise approach for studying animal movement drivers that is based on a context-dependence framework. We examine relevant literature to illustrate how this context-focused approach can aid in reliably identifying drivers of a specific movement pattern. Ultimately, incorporating behavioral variability in the study of movement drivers can assist in making predictions about behavioral responses to environmental change, overcoming tagging biases, and establishing more efficient conservation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Lubitz
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Michael Bradley
- Marine Data Technology HubCollege of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Marcus Sheaves
- Marine Data Technology HubCollege of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Neil Hammerschlag
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric ScienceUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - Ryan Daly
- Oceanographic Research InstituteDurbanSouth Africa
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)MakhandaSouth Africa
| | - Adam Barnett
- Marine Data Technology HubCollege of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
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7
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Wilson RR, Martin MS, Regehr EV, Rode KD. Intrapopulation differences in polar bear movement and step selection patterns. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2022; 10:25. [PMID: 35606849 PMCID: PMC9128121 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00326-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The spatial ecology of individuals often varies within a population or species. Identifying how individuals in different classes interact with their environment can lead to a better understanding of population responses to human activities and environmental change and improve population estimates. Most inferences about polar bear (Ursus maritimus) spatial ecology are based on data from adult females due to morphological constraints on applying satellite radio collars to other classes of bears. Recent studies, however, have provided limited movement data for adult males and sub-adults of both sexes using ear-mounted and glue-on tags. We evaluated class-specific movements and step selection patterns for polar bears in the Chukchi Sea subpopulation during spring. METHODS We developed hierarchical Bayesian models to evaluate polar bear movement (i.e., step length and directional persistence) and step selection at the scale of 4-day step lengths. We assessed differences in movement and step selection parameters among the three classes of polar bears (i.e., adult males, sub-adults, and adult females without cubs-of-the-year). RESULTS Adult males had larger step lengths and less directed movements than adult females. Sub-adult movement parameters did not differ from the other classes but point estimates were most similar to adult females. We did not detect differences among polar bear classes in step selection parameters and parameter estimates were consistent with previous studies. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the use of estimated step selection patterns from adult females as a proxy for other classes of polar bears during spring. Conversely, movement analyses indicated that using data from adult females as a proxy for the movements of adult males is likely inappropriate. We recommend that researchers consider whether it is valid to extend inference derived from adult female movements to other classes, based on the questions being asked and the spatial and temporal scope of the data. Because our data were specific to spring, these findings highlight the need to evaluate differences in movement and step selection during other periods of the year, for which data from ear-mounted and glue-on tags are currently lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan R Wilson
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management, Anchorage, AK, USA.
| | - Michelle St Martin
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management, Anchorage, AK, USA
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR, 97266, USA
| | - Eric V Regehr
- Polar Science Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Karyn D Rode
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK, USA
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Manuzzi A, Jiménez-Mena B, Henriques R, Holmes BJ, Pepperell J, Edson J, Bennett MB, Huveneers C, Ovenden JR, Nielsen EE. Retrospective genomics highlights changes in genetic composition of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) and potential loss of a south-eastern Australia population. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6582. [PMID: 35449439 PMCID: PMC9023511 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10529-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last century, many shark populations have declined, primarily due to overexploitation in commercial, artisanal and recreational fisheries. In addition, in some locations the use of shark control programs also has had an impact on shark numbers. Still, there is a general perception that populations of large ocean predators cover wide areas and therefore their diversity is less susceptible to local anthropogenic disturbance. Here we report on temporal genomic analyses of tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) DNA samples that were collected from eastern Australia over the past century. Using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) loci, we documented a significant change in genetic composition of tiger sharks born between ~1939 and 2015. The change was most likely due to a shift over time in the relative contribution of two well-differentiated, but hitherto cryptic populations. Our data strongly indicate a dramatic shift in the relative contribution of these two populations to the overall tiger shark abundance on the east coast of Australia, possibly associated with differences in direct or indirect exploitation rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Manuzzi
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Vejlsøvej 39, 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark.
| | - Belen Jiménez-Mena
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Vejlsøvej 39, 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Romina Henriques
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Vejlsøvej 39, 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Bonnie J Holmes
- School of Science, Technology & Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - Julian Pepperell
- Pepperell Research and Consulting, PO Box 1475, Noosaville DC, QLD, 4566, Australia
| | - Janette Edson
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mike B Bennett
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Charlie Huveneers
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - Jennifer R Ovenden
- Molecular Fisheries Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Einar E Nielsen
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Vejlsøvej 39, 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
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Hammerschlag N, McDonnell LH, Rider MJ, Street GM, Hazen EL, Natanson LJ, McCandless CT, Boudreau MR, Gallagher AJ, Pinsky ML, Kirtman B. Ocean warming alters the distributional range, migratory timing, and spatial protections of an apex predator, the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:1990-2005. [PMID: 35023247 PMCID: PMC9305416 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Given climate change threats to ecosystems, it is critical to understand the responses of species to warming. This is especially important in the case of apex predators since they exhibit relatively high extinction risk, and changes to their distribution could impact predator-prey interactions that can initiate trophic cascades. Here we used a combined analysis of animal tracking, remotely sensed environmental data, habitat modeling, and capture data to evaluate the effects of climate variability and change on the distributional range and migratory phenology of an ectothermic apex predator, the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). Tiger sharks satellite tracked in the western North Atlantic between 2010 and 2019 revealed significant annual variability in the geographic extent and timing of their migrations to northern latitudes from ocean warming. Specifically, tiger shark migrations have extended farther poleward and arrival times to northern latitudes have occurred earlier in the year during periods with anomalously high sea-surface temperatures. A complementary analysis of nearly 40 years of tiger shark captures in the region revealed decadal-scale changes in the distribution and timing of shark captures in parallel with long-term ocean warming. Specifically, areas of highest catch densities have progressively increased poleward and catches have occurred earlier in the year off the North American shelf. During periods of anomalously high sea-surface temperatures, movements of tracked sharks shifted beyond spatial management zones that had been affording them protection from commercial fishing and bycatch. Taken together, these study results have implications for fisheries management, human-wildlife conflict, and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Hammerschlag
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric ScienceUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
- Leonard & Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and PolicyUniversity of MiamiCoral GablesFloridaUSA
| | - Laura H. McDonnell
- Leonard & Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and PolicyUniversity of MiamiCoral GablesFloridaUSA
| | - Mitchell J. Rider
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric ScienceUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - Garrett M. Street
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and AquacultureMississippi State UniversityStarkvilleMississippiUSA
- Quantitative Ecology and Spatial Technologies LaboratoryMississippi State UniversityStarkvilleMississippiUSA
| | - Elliott L. Hazen
- Environmental Research DivisionNOAA Southwest Fisheries Science CenterMontereyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Lisa J. Natanson
- National Marine Fisheries ServiceNarragansett LaboratoryNOAA Northeast Fisheries Science CenterNarragansettRhode IslandUSA
| | - Camilla T. McCandless
- National Marine Fisheries ServiceNarragansett LaboratoryNOAA Northeast Fisheries Science CenterNarragansettRhode IslandUSA
| | - Melanie R. Boudreau
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and AquacultureMississippi State UniversityStarkvilleMississippiUSA
- Quantitative Ecology and Spatial Technologies LaboratoryMississippi State UniversityStarkvilleMississippiUSA
| | | | - Malin L. Pinsky
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural ResourcesRutgers, The State University of New JerseyNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
| | - Ben Kirtman
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric ScienceUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
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Paxton AB, Steward DN, Harrison ZH, Taylor JC. Fitting ecological principles of artificial reefs into the ocean planning puzzle. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Avery B. Paxton
- CSS‐Inc Fairfax Virginia USA
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Beaufort North Carolina USA
| | | | - Zachary H. Harrison
- North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Morehead City North Carolina USA
| | - J. Christopher Taylor
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Beaufort North Carolina USA
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11
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Bernard AM, Finnegan KA, Pavinski Bitar P, Stanhope MJ, Shivji MS. Genomic assessment of global population structure in a highly migratory and habitat versatile apex predator, the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). J Hered 2021; 112:497-507. [PMID: 34374783 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esab046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the population dynamics of highly mobile, widely distributed, oceanic sharks, many of which are overexploited, is necessary to aid their conservation management. We investigated the global population genomics of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier), a circumglobally distributed, apex predator displaying remarkable behavioral versatility in its diet, habitat use (near coastal, coral reef, pelagic), and individual movement patterns (spatially resident to long-distance migrations). We genotyped 242 tiger sharks from 10 globally distributed locations at more than 2000 single nucleotide polymorphisms. Although this species often conducts massive distance migrations, the data show strong genetic differentiation at both neutral (FST=0.125-0.144) and candidate outlier loci (FST=0.570-0.761) between western Atlantic and Indo-Pacific sharks, suggesting the potential for adaptation to the environments specific to these oceanic regions. Within these regions, there was mixed support for population differentiation between northern and southern hemispheres in the western Atlantic, and none for structure within the Indian Ocean. Notably, the results demonstrate a low level of population differentiation of tiger sharks from the remote Hawaiian archipelago compared to sharks from the Indian Ocean (FST=0.003-0.005, P<0.01). Given concerns about biodiversity loss and marine ecosystem impacts caused by overfishing of oceanic sharks in the midst of rapid environmental change, our results suggest it imperative that international fishery management prioritize conservation of the evolutionary potential of the highly genetically differentiated Atlantic and Indo-Pacific populations of this unique apex predator. Furthermore, we suggest targeted management attention to tiger sharks in the Hawaiian archipelago based on a precautionary biodiversity conservation perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M Bernard
- Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, Florida, USA
| | - Kimberly A Finnegan
- Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, Florida, USA.,Guy Harvey Research Institute, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, Florida, USA
| | - Paulina Pavinski Bitar
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Stanhope
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Mahmood S Shivji
- Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, Florida, USA.,Guy Harvey Research Institute, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, Florida, USA
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Rangel BDS, Moreira RG, Niella YV, Sulikowski JA, Hammerschlag N. Metabolic and nutritional condition of juvenile tiger sharks exposed to regional differences in coastal urbanization. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 780:146548. [PMID: 34030348 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
How varying levels of human activity, such as proximity and size of the nearest market (i.e., market gravity), influence the nutritional ecology and physiological condition of highly migratory marine predators is poorly understood. In the present study, we used a non-lethal approach to compare the concentration of metabolic hormones (i.e. corticosteroids and thyroid hormones) and plasma fatty acids between juvenile female tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) sampled in two areas of the subtropical north Atlantic, which differed markedly in their levels of coastal urbanization, Florida and the Bahamas (high versus low, respectively). We hypothesized that juvenile female tiger sharks sampled in water surrounding high coastal urbanization (Florida), would exhibit evidence of lower prey quality and higher energetic demands as compared to individuals sampled in relatively less urbanized areas of Northern Bahamas. Results revealed that relative corticosteroid levels (a proxy for energy mobilization) were higher in juvenile female tiger sharks sampled in Florida; however, no differences were found in concentrations of thyroid hormones (proxies of energetic adjustments) between the two locations. We found higher percentages of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (indicative of high prey quality) in juvenile tiger sharks from Florida, whereas higher percentages of bacterial markers (often indicative of domestic sewage effluent) were detected in the individuals sampled in the Bahamas. Taken together, these findings do not suggest that the differences in nutritional quality and metabolic condition found between the two sampling locations can be fully attributed to foraging in areas exposed to differing levels of urbanization. We speculate that these patterns may be due to the highly migratory nature and generalist feeding strategy of this species, even at the juvenile life stage, as well as proximity of sampling locations from shore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca de Sousa Rangel
- Laboratório de Metabolismo e Reprodução de Organismos Aquáticos, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, 321, CEP 05508-090, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Renata Guimarães Moreira
- Laboratório de Metabolismo e Reprodução de Organismos Aquáticos, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, 321, CEP 05508-090, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Yuri Vieira Niella
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, Australia
| | - James A Sulikowski
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ 85306, USA
| | - Neil Hammerschlag
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA; Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
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