Varying reef shark abundance trends inside a marine reserve: evidence of a Caribbean reef shark decline

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
KI Flowers ◽  
EA Babcock ◽  
YP Papastamatiou ◽  
ME Bond ◽  
N Lamb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Reef Shark ◽  
Caribbean Reef ◽  
Abundance Trends

The effects of Biorock-associated electric fields on the Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) and the bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas)

2017 ◽  
Vol 67 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 191-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcella P. Uchoa ◽  
Craig P. O’Connell ◽  
Thomas J. Goreau
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Reef Shark ◽  
Reef Restoration ◽  
Caribbean Reef ◽  
Carcharhinus Leucas ◽  
Treatment Type ◽  
Bull Shark ◽  
The Caribbean

Healthy coral reefs are biologically diverse and provide vital ecosystem services. However, decreasing water quality and global warming are key contributors to coral reef decline, which poses substantial environmental threats. In response to this degradation, an innovative coral reef restoration technology, called Biorock, utilizes weak direct current electric fields to cause limestone deposition on conductive materials, inevitably inducing prolific coral reef growth. Although expediting coral growth, research on how the associated electric fields may impact the behavioural patterns of teleosts and/or organisms (i.e. elasmobranchs) possessing electroreception capabilities is lacking. Therefore, we studied the behavioural responses of two shark species, the bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) and the Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) and multiple teleost species towards weak direct current electric fields in Bimini, Bahamas. Generalized linear mixed model analyses based on 90 trials illustrate that both the feeding and avoidance behaviors of C. leucas and C. perezi were significantly associated with treatment type, with the weak experimental electrode treatments resulting in the greatest quantity of avoidances and fewest feedings for both species. However, data analyses illustrate that teleost feeding behavior was not observably impacted by experimental treatments. Although the Biorock technology exhibits promise in coral reef restoration, the findings from this study illustrate a need for future large-scale studies assessing shark behavioral patterns around these devices, since the deterrence of apex predators may impact ecosystem balance.

scholarly journals Complete mitochondrial genome of the Caribbean reef shark, Carcharhinus perezi (Carcharhinformes: Carcharhinidae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 2662-2664
Author(s):  
Austin J. Gallagher ◽  
Oliver N. Shipley ◽  
Bo Reese ◽  
Vijender Singh
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Genome ◽  
Complete Mitochondrial Genome ◽  
Reef Shark ◽  
Caribbean Reef ◽  
The Caribbean

The physiological response of the Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) to longline capture

2012 ◽  
Vol 162 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward J. Brooks ◽  
John W. Mandelman ◽  
Katherine A. Sloman ◽  
Stephanie Liss ◽  
Andy J. Danylchuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Response ◽  
Reef Shark ◽  
Caribbean Reef ◽  
The Caribbean

scholarly journals Abundance and size structure of a reef shark population within a marine reserve has remained stable for more than a decade

2017 ◽  
Vol 576 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
ME Bond ◽  
J Valentin-Albanese ◽  
EA Babcock ◽  
D Abercrombie ◽  
NF Lamb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Structure ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Reef Shark

rapid voluntary stomach eversion in a free-living shark

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 1141-1144 ◽  
Author(s):  
juerg m. brunnschweiler ◽  
paul l.r. andrews ◽  
emily j. southall ◽  
mark pickering ◽  
david w. sims
Keyword(s):  
Alimentary Tract ◽  
Video Observation ◽  
Suction Feeding ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Reef Shark ◽  
Caribbean Reef ◽  
Food Particles

video observation of oral gastric eversion in a free-living caribbean reef shark (carcharhinus perezi) shows voluntary gastric eversion followed by retraction not only occurs, but is extremely rapid (lasting ∼0.3 s). eversion may occur by stomach relaxation–oesophageal contraction coupled with increased abdominal pressures to enable prolapse, and retraction by a mechanism analogous to suction feeding. this behaviour provides a ‘cleansing’ function for removing indigestible food particles, parasites or mucus from the stomach lining. sharks, and possibly other animals with similar gut morphologies, may use this technique to help maintain a healthy alimentary tract.

scholarly journals Metal concentrations in coastal sharks from The Bahamas with a focus on the Caribbean Reef shark

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver N. Shipley ◽  
Cheng-Shiuan Lee ◽  
Nicholas S. Fisher ◽  
James K. Sternlicht ◽  
Sami Kattan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Tiger Shark ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Metal Concentrations ◽  
Reef Shark ◽  
Galeocerdo Cuvier ◽  
Caribbean Reef ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
High Concentrations

AbstractOver the last century anthropogenic activities have rapidly increased the influx of metals and metalloids entering the marine environment, which can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in marine top consumers. This may elicit sublethal effects on target organisms, having broad implications for human seafood consumers. We provide the first assessment of metal (Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, and THg) and metalloid (As) concentrations in the muscle tissue of coastal sharks from The Bahamas. A total of 36 individual sharks from six species were evaluated, spanning two regions/study areas, with a focus on the Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi), and to a lesser extent the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). This is due their high relative abundance and ecological significance throughout coastal Bahamian and regional ecosystems. Caribbean reef sharks exhibited some of the highest metal concentrations compared to five other species, and peaks in the concentrations of Pb, Cr, Cu were observed as individuals reached sexual maturity. Observations were attributed to foraging on larger, more piscivorous prey, high longevity, as well a potential slowing rate of growth. We observed correlations between some metals, which are challenging to interpret but may be attributed to trophic level and ambient metal conditions. Our results provide the first account of metal concentrations in Bahamian sharks, suggesting individuals exhibit high concentrations which may potentially cause sublethal effects. Finally, these findings underscore the potential toxicity of shark meat and have significant implications for human consumers.

Marine Reserve Design and Evaluation Using Automated Acoustic Telemetry: A Case-study Involving Coral Reef-associated Sharks in the Mesoamerican Caribbean

2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Demian D. Chapman ◽  
Ellen K. Pikitch ◽  
Elizabeth Babcock ◽  
Mahmood S. Shivji
Keyword(s):  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Reserve Design ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Shark Species ◽  
Caribbean Reef ◽  
Receiver Array ◽  
Nurse Sharks

A non-overlapping acoustic receiver array was used to track the movements of two common shark species, nurse Ginglymostoma cirratum (n=25) and Caribbean reef Carcharhinus perezi (n=5), in and around Glover's Reef Marine Reserve (GRMR), off the coast of Belize, between May and October, 2004. Although both species exhibited partial site fidelity in that they were most likely to be detected near the area of original capture, both species also moved widely throughout the 10 by 30 km atoll. One Caribbean reef shark was detected by a monitor at Lighthouse Reef, 30 km from Glover's Reef across deep (>400m) open water. The mean minimum linear dispersal (MLD) was 10.5 km for Caribbean reef sharks and 7.7 km for nurse sharks, with many individuals traveling more than the 10 km width of the no-take "conservation zone" of the marine reserve. Although most sharks were tagged within the conservation zone, individuals were detected outside this part of GRMR on average 48 days out of the 150 days of observations. However, of 7 nurse sharks tagged near the center of the conservation zone, 4 were never detected outside of this part of the reserve. In general, this study suggests that effective conservation of these large roving predators requires an ecosystem-based management approach including a zoned management plan, similar to that used at GRMR, in which a fairly large no-take reserve, incorporating diverse habitats and the connections between them, is surrounded by a larger area in which fishing is regulated.

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