Widespread diversity deficits of coral reef sharks and rays.


Simpfendorfer, Colin A ORCID: 0000-0002-0295-2238, Heithaus, Michael R ORCID: 0000-0002-3219-1003, Heupel, Michelle R ORCID: 0000-0002-8245-7332, MacNeil, M Aaron ORCID: 0000-0001-8406-325X, Meekan, Mark ORCID: 0000-0002-3067-9427, Harvey, Euan ORCID: 0000-0002-9069-4581, Sherman, C Samantha ORCID: 0000-0002-7150-1035, Currey-Randall, Leanne M ORCID: 0000-0002-3772-1288, Goetze, Jordan S ORCID: 0000-0002-3090-9763, Kiszka, Jeremy J ORCID: 0000-0003-1095-8979 et al (show 143 more authors) (2023) Widespread diversity deficits of coral reef sharks and rays. Science (New York, N.Y.), 380 (6650). pp. 1155-1160.

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Abstract

A global survey of coral reefs reveals that overfishing is driving resident shark species toward extinction, causing diversity deficits in reef elasmobranch (shark and ray) assemblages. Our species-level analysis revealed global declines of 60 to 73% for five common resident reef shark species and that individual shark species were not detected at 34 to 47% of surveyed reefs. As reefs become more shark-depleted, rays begin to dominate assemblages. Shark-dominated assemblages persist in wealthy nations with strong governance and in highly protected areas, whereas poverty, weak governance, and a lack of shark management are associated with depauperate assemblages mainly composed of rays. Without action to address these diversity deficits, loss of ecological function and ecosystem services will increasingly affect human communities.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Animals, Sharks, Humans, Conservation of Natural Resources, Biodiversity, Fisheries, Extinction, Biological, Coral Reefs, Skates, Fish
Divisions: Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 21 Sep 2023 12:40
Last Modified: 21 Sep 2023 12:42
DOI: 10.1126/science.ade4884
Open Access URL: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/160987/
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3171042
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