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Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatiotemporal distribution and sexual segregation in the Critically Endangered angelshark Squatina squatina in Spain’s largest marine reserve
AU - Mead, LR
AU - Jiménez Alvarado, D
AU - Meyers, E
AU - Barker, J
AU - Sealey, M
AU - Caro, MB
AU - Toledo, H
AU - Pike, C
AU - Gollock, M
AU - Piper, A
AU - Schofield, G
AU - Herraiz, E
AU - Jacoby, DMP
PY - 2023/7/20
Y1 - 2023/7/20
N2 - Establishing how threatened wildlife are distributed spatially and temporally is essential for effective conservation and management planning. While many shark species are threatened globally, knowledge on sex-specific differences in behaviour and fine-scale habitat use remains limited, hindering the implementation of appropriate conservation actions. Here, acoustic telemetry was used to investigate sex-specific space use in the Critically Endangered angelshark Squatina squatina in the Canary Islands (Atlantic Ocean), a key stronghold for the species. We collected data on space use, residency and movement of adult males (n = 32) and females (n = 72) in Spain’s largest marine reserve (La Graciosa Marine Reserve) over 4 yr (2018-2022). Presence in offshore sites (>80 m depth) indicated long-term utilisation of deep-water habitat, not previously observed in this species. Males were more likely to be detected in deep water and displayed significantly greater levels of activity and roaming behaviour than females. Patterns of behaviour in shallow waters indicated both social and habitat sexual segregation. Diel variability was also recorded, with greater activity occurring nocturnally. This study demonstrates the importance of considering the spatiotemporal distribution of both sexes, horizontally and vertically, when designing effective conservation measures.
AB - Establishing how threatened wildlife are distributed spatially and temporally is essential for effective conservation and management planning. While many shark species are threatened globally, knowledge on sex-specific differences in behaviour and fine-scale habitat use remains limited, hindering the implementation of appropriate conservation actions. Here, acoustic telemetry was used to investigate sex-specific space use in the Critically Endangered angelshark Squatina squatina in the Canary Islands (Atlantic Ocean), a key stronghold for the species. We collected data on space use, residency and movement of adult males (n = 32) and females (n = 72) in Spain’s largest marine reserve (La Graciosa Marine Reserve) over 4 yr (2018-2022). Presence in offshore sites (>80 m depth) indicated long-term utilisation of deep-water habitat, not previously observed in this species. Males were more likely to be detected in deep water and displayed significantly greater levels of activity and roaming behaviour than females. Patterns of behaviour in shallow waters indicated both social and habitat sexual segregation. Diel variability was also recorded, with greater activity occurring nocturnally. This study demonstrates the importance of considering the spatiotemporal distribution of both sexes, horizontally and vertically, when designing effective conservation measures.
KW - Nature and Landscape Conservation
KW - Ecology
U2 - 10.3354/esr01255
DO - 10.3354/esr01255
M3 - Journal article
VL - 51
SP - 233
EP - 248
JO - Endangered Species Research
JF - Endangered Species Research
SN - 1863-5407
ER -