Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Megamouth Shark, <i>Megachasma pelagios</i>, Inferred from over 250 Individuals Recorded in the Three Oceans
The megamouth shark (<i>Megachasma pelagios</i>) is one of the rarest shark species in the three oceans, and its biological and fishery information is still very limited. A total of 261 landing/stranding records were examined, including 132 females, 87 males, and 42 sex unknown individua...
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/10/2947 |
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| author | Chi-Ju Yu Shoou-Jeng Joung Hua-Hsun Hsu Chia-Yen Lin Tzu-Chi Hsieh Kwang-Ming Liu Atsuko Yamaguchi |
| author_facet | Chi-Ju Yu Shoou-Jeng Joung Hua-Hsun Hsu Chia-Yen Lin Tzu-Chi Hsieh Kwang-Ming Liu Atsuko Yamaguchi |
| author_sort | Chi-Ju Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The megamouth shark (<i>Megachasma pelagios</i>) is one of the rarest shark species in the three oceans, and its biological and fishery information is still very limited. A total of 261 landing/stranding records were examined, including 132 females, 87 males, and 42 sex unknown individuals, to provide the most detailed information on global megamouth shark records, and the spatial–temporal distribution of <i>M. pelagios</i> was inferenced from these records. The vertical distribution of <i>M. pelagios</i> ranged 0–1203 m in depth, and immature individuals were mostly found in the waters shallower than 200 m. Mature individuals are not only able to dive deeper, but also move to higher latitude waters. The majority of <i>M. pelagios</i> are found in the western North Pacific Ocean (>5° N). The Indian and Atlantic Oceans are the potential nursery areas for this species, immature individuals are mainly found in Indonesia and Philippine waters. Large individuals tend to move towards higher latitude waters (>15° N) for foraging and growth from April to August. Sexual segregation of <i>M. pelagios</i> is found, females tend to move to higher latitude waters (>30° N) in the western North Pacific Ocean, but males may move across the North Pacific Ocean. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:46:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-879cee6a4e8d4bab84d8d7407542eafc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:46:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-879cee6a4e8d4bab84d8d7407542eafc2023-11-22T17:11:41ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-10-011110294710.3390/ani11102947Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Megamouth Shark, <i>Megachasma pelagios</i>, Inferred from over 250 Individuals Recorded in the Three OceansChi-Ju Yu0Shoou-Jeng Joung1Hua-Hsun Hsu2Chia-Yen Lin3Tzu-Chi Hsieh4Kwang-Ming Liu5Atsuko Yamaguchi6Department of Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, TaiwanDepartment of Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, TaiwanMarine Studies Section, Center for Environment and Water, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, TaiwanDepartment of Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, TaiwanGeorge Chen Shark Research Center, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, TaiwanGraduate School of Fisheries Science and Environmental Studies, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, JapanThe megamouth shark (<i>Megachasma pelagios</i>) is one of the rarest shark species in the three oceans, and its biological and fishery information is still very limited. A total of 261 landing/stranding records were examined, including 132 females, 87 males, and 42 sex unknown individuals, to provide the most detailed information on global megamouth shark records, and the spatial–temporal distribution of <i>M. pelagios</i> was inferenced from these records. The vertical distribution of <i>M. pelagios</i> ranged 0–1203 m in depth, and immature individuals were mostly found in the waters shallower than 200 m. Mature individuals are not only able to dive deeper, but also move to higher latitude waters. The majority of <i>M. pelagios</i> are found in the western North Pacific Ocean (>5° N). The Indian and Atlantic Oceans are the potential nursery areas for this species, immature individuals are mainly found in Indonesia and Philippine waters. Large individuals tend to move towards higher latitude waters (>15° N) for foraging and growth from April to August. Sexual segregation of <i>M. pelagios</i> is found, females tend to move to higher latitude waters (>30° N) in the western North Pacific Ocean, but males may move across the North Pacific Ocean.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/10/2947horizontal movementvertical movementelasmobranchssex segregationwestern North Pacificeastern Taiwan waters |
| spellingShingle | Chi-Ju Yu Shoou-Jeng Joung Hua-Hsun Hsu Chia-Yen Lin Tzu-Chi Hsieh Kwang-Ming Liu Atsuko Yamaguchi Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Megamouth Shark, <i>Megachasma pelagios</i>, Inferred from over 250 Individuals Recorded in the Three Oceans Animals horizontal movement vertical movement elasmobranchs sex segregation western North Pacific eastern Taiwan waters |
| title | Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Megamouth Shark, <i>Megachasma pelagios</i>, Inferred from over 250 Individuals Recorded in the Three Oceans |
| title_full | Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Megamouth Shark, <i>Megachasma pelagios</i>, Inferred from over 250 Individuals Recorded in the Three Oceans |
| title_fullStr | Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Megamouth Shark, <i>Megachasma pelagios</i>, Inferred from over 250 Individuals Recorded in the Three Oceans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Megamouth Shark, <i>Megachasma pelagios</i>, Inferred from over 250 Individuals Recorded in the Three Oceans |
| title_short | Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Megamouth Shark, <i>Megachasma pelagios</i>, Inferred from over 250 Individuals Recorded in the Three Oceans |
| title_sort | spatial temporal distribution of megamouth shark i megachasma pelagios i inferred from over 250 individuals recorded in the three oceans |
| topic | horizontal movement vertical movement elasmobranchs sex segregation western North Pacific eastern Taiwan waters |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/10/2947 |
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