Near disappearance of the Angelshark Squatina squatina over half a century of observations
Abstract Marine extinctions are particularly difficult to detect and almost all have been discovered after the fact. Retrospective analyses are essential to avoid concluding no‐extinction when one has occurred. We reconstruct the Angelshark population trajectory in a former hotspot (Wales), using in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.97 |
| _version_ | 1819083759075459072 |
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| author | Jan G Hiddink Jennifer Shepperson Robin Bater Dilhani Goonesekera Nicholas K. Dulvy |
| author_facet | Jan G Hiddink Jennifer Shepperson Robin Bater Dilhani Goonesekera Nicholas K. Dulvy |
| author_sort | Jan G Hiddink |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Marine extinctions are particularly difficult to detect and almost all have been discovered after the fact. Retrospective analyses are essential to avoid concluding no‐extinction when one has occurred. We reconstruct the Angelshark population trajectory in a former hotspot (Wales), using interviews and opportunistic records. After correcting for observation effort and recall bias, we estimate a 70% (1.5%/year) decline in abundance over 46 years. While formerly widespread, Angelshark distribution contracted to a central core of Cardigan Bay. Angelshark declined almost unnoticed in one of the best‐monitored and most intensively managed seas in the world. Bycatch may be minimized by limiting netting on shingle reefs in Cardigan Bay. We provide the first quantitative time series to reveal the timing and trajectory of decline of Angelshark in the coastal waters of Wales and uncover historical centers of abundance and remnant populations that provide the first opportunity for the focus of conservation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:37:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-236191968dd5461f97d7bcda10bd4b91 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:37:40Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-236191968dd5461f97d7bcda10bd4b912022-12-21T18:51:03ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542019-09-0119n/an/a10.1111/csp2.97Near disappearance of the Angelshark Squatina squatina over half a century of observationsJan G Hiddink0Jennifer Shepperson1Robin Bater2Dilhani Goonesekera3Nicholas K. Dulvy4School of Ocean Sciences Bangor University Menai Bridge UKSchool of Ocean Sciences Bangor University Menai Bridge UKSchool of Ocean Sciences Bangor University Menai Bridge UKSchool of Ocean Sciences Bangor University Menai Bridge UKEarth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby British Columbia CanadaAbstract Marine extinctions are particularly difficult to detect and almost all have been discovered after the fact. Retrospective analyses are essential to avoid concluding no‐extinction when one has occurred. We reconstruct the Angelshark population trajectory in a former hotspot (Wales), using interviews and opportunistic records. After correcting for observation effort and recall bias, we estimate a 70% (1.5%/year) decline in abundance over 46 years. While formerly widespread, Angelshark distribution contracted to a central core of Cardigan Bay. Angelshark declined almost unnoticed in one of the best‐monitored and most intensively managed seas in the world. Bycatch may be minimized by limiting netting on shingle reefs in Cardigan Bay. We provide the first quantitative time series to reveal the timing and trajectory of decline of Angelshark in the coastal waters of Wales and uncover historical centers of abundance and remnant populations that provide the first opportunity for the focus of conservation.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.97Elasmobranchiifisherieshistorical ecologylocal ecological knowledgereconstruction of changes in abundance |
| spellingShingle | Jan G Hiddink Jennifer Shepperson Robin Bater Dilhani Goonesekera Nicholas K. Dulvy Near disappearance of the Angelshark Squatina squatina over half a century of observations Conservation Science and Practice Elasmobranchii fisheries historical ecology local ecological knowledge reconstruction of changes in abundance |
| title | Near disappearance of the Angelshark Squatina squatina over half a century of observations |
| title_full | Near disappearance of the Angelshark Squatina squatina over half a century of observations |
| title_fullStr | Near disappearance of the Angelshark Squatina squatina over half a century of observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Near disappearance of the Angelshark Squatina squatina over half a century of observations |
| title_short | Near disappearance of the Angelshark Squatina squatina over half a century of observations |
| title_sort | near disappearance of the angelshark squatina squatina over half a century of observations |
| topic | Elasmobranchii fisheries historical ecology local ecological knowledge reconstruction of changes in abundance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.97 |
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