scholarly journals Spatial Connectivity and Drivers of Shark Habitat Use Within a Large Marine Protected Area in the Caribbean, The Bahamas Shark Sanctuary

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin J. Gallagher ◽  
Oliver N. Shipley ◽  
Maurits P. M. van Zinnicq Bergmann ◽  
Jacob W. Brownscombe ◽  
Craig P. Dahlgren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Galeocerdo Cuvier ◽  
Caribbean Reef ◽  
Detection Probabilities ◽  
Reef Sharks

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have emerged as potentially important conservation tools for the conservation of biodiversity and mitigation of climate impacts. Among MPAs, a large percentage has been created with the implicit goal of protecting shark populations, including 17 shark sanctuaries which fully protect sharks throughout their jurisdiction. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas represents a long-term MPA for sharks, following the banning of commercial longlining in 1993 and subsequent designation as a shark sanctuary in 2011. Little is known, however, about the long-term behavior and space use of sharks within this protected area, particularly among reef-associated sharks for which the sanctuary presumably offers the most benefit. We used acoustic telemetry to advance our understanding of the ecology of such sharks, namely Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezi) and tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier), over two discrete islands (New Providence and Great Exuma) varying in human activity level, over 2 years. We evaluated which factors influenced the likelihood of detection of individuals, analyzed patterns of movement and occurrence, and identified variability in habitat selection among species and regions, using a dataset of 23 Caribbean reef sharks and 15 tiger sharks which were passively monitored in two arrays with a combined total of 13 acoustic receivers. Caribbean reef sharks had lower detection probabilities than tiger sharks, and exhibited relatively low habitat connectivity and high residency, while tiger sharks demonstrated wider roaming behavior across much greater space. Tiger sharks were associated with shallow seagrass habitats where available, but frequently transited between and connected different habitat types. Our data support the notion that large MPAs afford greater degrees of protection for highly resident species such as Caribbean reef sharks, yet still may provide substantial benefits for more migratory species such as tiger sharks. We discuss these findings within the context of species-habitat linkages, ecosystem services, and the establishment of future MPAs.

Estimating marine protected area network benefits for reef sharks

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 1969-1980
Author(s):  
Gerardo Martín ◽  
Mario Espinoza ◽  
Michelle Heupel ◽  
Colin A. Simpfendorfer
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Protected Area Network ◽  
Reef Sharks

Fine-scale movement and activity patterns of Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezi) in the Bahamas

2017 ◽  
Vol 101 (7) ◽  
pp. 1097-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver N. Shipley ◽  
Jacob W. Brownscombe ◽  
Andy J. Danylchuk ◽  
Steven J. Cooke ◽  
Owen R. O’Shea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Caribbean Reef ◽  
Reef Sharks

scholarly journals Long-term and spillover effects of a marine protected area on an exploited fish community

2009 ◽  
Vol 384 ◽  
pp. 47-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Stobart ◽  
R Warwick ◽  
C González ◽  
S Mallol ◽  
D Díaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Spillover Effects

scholarly journals INTEGRATING LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) AND MARINE PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (02) ◽  
pp. 279-300
Author(s):  
Ricardo Jessouroun Miranda ◽  
◽  
Ana Cláudia Mendes Malhado ◽  
Nidia Noemi Fabré ◽  
Vandick da Silva Batista ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Protected Area Management ◽  
Ecological Research ◽  
Long Term Ecological Research ◽  
Area Management

scholarly journals Horizontal and vertical movements of Caribbean reef sharks ( Carcharhinus perezi ): conservation implications of limited migration in a marine sanctuary

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 160611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver N. Shipley ◽  
Lucy A. Howey ◽  
Emily R. Tolentino ◽  
Lance K. B. Jordan ◽  
Jonathan L. W. Ruppert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Vertical Movements ◽  
Caribbean Reef ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Ecosystem Connectivity ◽  
Archival Tags ◽  
High Site ◽  
Reef Sharks

Despite the ecological and economic importance of the Caribbean reef shark ( Carcharhinus perezi ), little data exist regarding the movements and habitat use of this predator across its range. We deployed 11 pop-up satellite archival tags on Caribbean reef sharks captured in the northeast Exuma Sound, The Bahamas, to assess their horizontal and vertical movements throughout the water column. Sharks showed high site fidelity to The Bahamas suggesting Bahamian subpopulations remain protected within the Bahamian Shark Sanctuary. Depth data indicate that Caribbean reef sharks spent a significant proportion (72–91%) of their time above 50 m in narrow vertical depth bands, which varied considerably on an individual basis. This may be indicative of high site fidelity to specific bathymetric features. Animals exhibited three broadly categorized sporadic off-bank excursions (more than 50 m excursions) down to a depth of 436.1 m, which were more frequent during the night. These deeper excursions during night may be indicative of foraging in relation to prey on mesophotic reefs, as well as diel-vertically migrating prey from the deeper meso- and bathypelagic zones. These vertical movements suggest that Caribbean reef sharks can be significant vectors of ecosystem connectivity further warranting holistic multi-system management and conservation approaches.

Residency and behavioural rhythmicity of ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) and rays (Raja spp.) captured in Portelet Bay, Jersey: implications for Marine Protected Area design

2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 1407-1414 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.M. Morel ◽  
J. Shrives ◽  
S.F. Bossy ◽  
C.G. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Species Assemblages ◽  
Seasonal Patterns ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Fish Movements ◽  
Individual Fish ◽  
Labrus Bergylta ◽  
Species Specific

We monitored the long-term residency of reef-associated ballan wrasse and sand-dwelling rays captured at the site of a potential future Marine Protected Area (MPA: Portelet Bay, Jersey) by implanting them with small transmitters and deploying underwater receivers inside the bay. Individual fish were detected at Portelet Bay for up to 618 days, but there were species-specific differences in residency and detection patterns. Ballan wrasse were year-round residents at the study site where they exhibited distinct, rhythmic, diel, tidal and seasonal patterns of behaviour, whereas rays were occasional visitors to Portelet Bay with no discernible pattern to their visits. Results indicate relatively small MPAs (<0.5 km2) that with suitable habitat could provide effective, long-term protection for ballan wrasse, but would likely be of little conservation benefit for rays. Our findings emphasize the importance of quantifying fish movements when planning MPAs which intend to protect multi-species assemblages of coastal fishes.

scholarly journals Movement patterns and growth rate of cavebass Dinoperca petersi (Pisces: Dinopercidae) in the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-59
Author(s):  
Bruce Q. Mann ◽  
Gareth L. Jordaan ◽  
Ryan Daly
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Growth Rate ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
High Site

Dinoperca petersi is a relatively common fish species caught in the line-fishery in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Yet, little is known about the biology and ecology of this species. Movement patterns and growth rate of this species were studied based on data obtained from a long-term tag-recapture study conducted in the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area in northern KZN between 2001-2019. Results showed that D. petersi is a highly resident species with a linear home-range size of 290-405 m. While most fish showed high site fidelity, 8.8 % of the tagged fish showed wider ranging movements of 2.4-90 km. However, only 5 fish showed movements out of no-take zones into adjacent exploited areas, suggesting limited adult spillover. Growth rate of tagged fish was found to be reasonably slow compared to other sympatric predatory reef fish with an average growth rate of 61.76 mm y–1 for smaller fish (gα = 300) and 9.58 mm y–1 for larger fish (gβ = 550). Based on these life history characteristics, options for the future conservation and management of this species are discussed.

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.

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