Bycatch of chondrichthyans in a coastal trawl fishery on Chubut province coast and adjacent waters, Argentina

Chondrichthyans are usually caught incidentally in fisheries for species of high commercial value and then discarded on board or landed as by-products. On the coast of Chubut province and adjacent waters (43°00′S–44°56′S) a bottom trawl fishery has developed targeted at the Patagonian shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) and common hake (Merluccius hubbsi). Since 2005, this fishery has been monitored by the On-board Observers Program of Chubut province (POBCh). With the aim of advancing towards an ecosystem approach, POBCh not only collects information about target species but also about all the species caught by the trawl nets of the province fisheries. From the information collected by this programme it was possible to identify and record the chondrichthyan species vulnerable to the fishing gear used by the coastal fleet that operates from Puerto Rawson. The composition of the fleet catch was characterized according to the target species during the 2005–2014 period. In the analysis of 3786 hauls, 23 species of chondrichthyans (seven species of sharks, 15 species of batoids and a single species of Holocephali) were identified. Seven species showed a frequency of occurrence greater than 10% (Callorhinchus callorynchus, Discopyge tschudii, Mustelus schmitti, Sympterygia bonapartii, Psammobatis normani, Squalus acanthias and Zearaja chilensis). Species spatial distribution was evaluated and five areas of species assemblages were established. Besides the aspects related to bycatch, these analyses have contributed to the knowledge of the chondrichthyan biodiversity in the provincial coast where the fleet operates, a region with incomplete and mostly dispersed and outdated information.

Feeding ecology of the apron rayDiscopyge tschudii(Elasmobranchii, Narcinidae) in San Jorge Gulf, Patagonia, Argentina

The study of the feeding habits of elasmobranch populations should help to elucidate the ecological role of these fishes in the marine ecosystem. Feeding habits of the apron ray,Discopyge tschudiifrom San Jorge Gulf were investigated. An evaluation of whether the diet ofD. tschudiichanges with body size, seasons, maturity stage and sex was performed using a multiple-hypothesis modelling approach.Discopyge tschudiipreyed mainly on polychaetes. The consumption of polychaetes was higher in males. Also, amphipods and siphons of clams were preyed more heavily in the cold season andMunida gregariain the warm season. Stomatopods were consumed more with increasing body size. All prey categories were independent of maturity stage. We concluded thatD. tschudiiis a benthic feeder.

Feeding habits of the apron ray,Discopyge tschudii(Elasmobranchii: Narcinidae), from off Uruguay and northern Argentina

The feeding habits of the apron ray,Discopyge tschudii, were investigated, off Uruguay and northern Argentina, and we tested the hypothesis that the diet changes with increasing body size, between sexes and seasons using a multiple-hypothesis modelling approach.Discopyge tschudiipreys mainly on polychaetes (88.77% index of relative importance (IRI)) followed by siphons of the clamAmiantis purpurata(8.13% IRI) and amphipods (3.08% IRI). Ontogenetic, sexual and seasonal changes were found. Larger individuals ofD. tschudiiconsumed buried polychaetes more often. The consumption of errant polychaetes was higher in males and in the cold season. Also, amphipods were preyed on more heavily by females and the number of siphons ofA. purpurataconsumed was higher in the cold season.

Distribution and reproductive biology of the Electric ray Discopyge tschudii Heckel, 1846 in San Matías Gulf, Northern Patagonia, Argentina

The Electric ray Discopyge tschudii is distributed in the Southwest Atlantic from southern Brazil to southern Argentina and in the Southeast Pacific from Peru to southern Chile. The main threat to this species is fishing. Discopyge tschudii is noncommercial and individuals caught are discarded on board. The present study analyzes the distribution and the morphological and reproductive characteristics of this ray in San Matías Gulf (SMG), Argentina. A total of 1087 individuals were analyzed. The species presented an aggregate distribution, with the main concentrations in the northern and eastern areas of SMG, at depths below 100 m. Males ranged from 9 to 43 cm and females from 11 to 38 cm. The species presented sexual dimorphism. Males were larger and heavier than females and also matured at larger sizes. Size at 50% of maturity was estimated at 30 cm for males and 21 cm for females. A total of 199 embryos were sampled and the proportion of sexes showed no significant differences from the expected 1:1. The number of embryos per female varied from 1 to 12. The most frequent values were 2 and 5. Length at birth was estimated at 82.17 ± 3.87 mm. Based on our findings, we hypothesize that the electric ray D. tschudii completes its reproductive cycle in SMG.

siphon nipping of the bivalve amiantis purpurata by the electric ray discopyge tschudii in mar del plata, argentina

a total of 67 discopyge tschudii was captured. individuals were sexed, measured and their stomach content analysed. siphon tips of the bivalve amiantis purpurata from each stomach were individually counted, weighed and their length and width measured. the size–frequency distribution of the local population of a. purpurata was surveyed for two years. siphons of a. purpurata were the main food item in 90% of individuals having stomach contents. the clam population was markedly bimodal, with 24 mm and 46 mm mean shell length for the younger and older size-classes, respectively. grazing by d. tschudii on a. purpurata varied with size and sex of the fish. small rays mainly ingested small siphons and large rays large siphons. nipped siphon tips were longer in male than in female rays.