Horizontal and vertical movements of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in the northeast Atlantic.

Commercial landings of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in northern European seas are increasing, whilst our knowledge of their ecology, behaviour and population structure remains limited. M. asterias is a widely distributed demersal shark, occupying the waters of the southern North Sea and Iri...

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Main Authors: Christopher A Griffiths, Serena R Wright, Joana F Silva, Jim R Ellis, David A Righton, Sophy R McCully Phillips
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2020-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239480
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author Christopher A Griffiths
Serena R Wright
Joana F Silva
Jim R Ellis
David A Righton
Sophy R McCully Phillips
author_facet Christopher A Griffiths
Serena R Wright
Joana F Silva
Jim R Ellis
David A Righton
Sophy R McCully Phillips
author_sort Christopher A Griffiths
collection DOAJ
description Commercial landings of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in northern European seas are increasing, whilst our knowledge of their ecology, behaviour and population structure remains limited. M. asterias is a widely distributed demersal shark, occupying the waters of the southern North Sea and Irish Sea in the north, to at least the southern Bay of Biscay in the south, and is seasonally abundant in UK waters. There are no species-specific management measures for the northeast Atlantic stock, and the complexity of its population structure is not yet fully understood. To address this issue, we deployed both mark-recapture and electronic tags on M. asterias to gain novel insights into its horizontal and vertical movements. Our data suggest that the habitat use of M. asterias changes on a seasonal basis, with associated changes in geographical distribution, depth utilisation and experienced temperature. We report the first direct evidence of philopatry for this species, and also provide initial evidence of sex-biased dispersal and potential metapopulation-like stock structuring either side of the UK continental shelf. Investigations of finer-scale vertical movements revealed clear diel variation in vertical activity. The illustrated patterns of seasonal space-use and behaviour will provide important information to support the stock assessment process and will help inform any future management options.
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spelling doaj.art-d74568e7a4a44e85bc294c77b6aa2e542022-12-21T19:17:15ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032020-01-011510e023948010.1371/journal.pone.0239480Horizontal and vertical movements of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in the northeast Atlantic.Christopher A GriffithsSerena R WrightJoana F SilvaJim R EllisDavid A RightonSophy R McCully PhillipsCommercial landings of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in northern European seas are increasing, whilst our knowledge of their ecology, behaviour and population structure remains limited. M. asterias is a widely distributed demersal shark, occupying the waters of the southern North Sea and Irish Sea in the north, to at least the southern Bay of Biscay in the south, and is seasonally abundant in UK waters. There are no species-specific management measures for the northeast Atlantic stock, and the complexity of its population structure is not yet fully understood. To address this issue, we deployed both mark-recapture and electronic tags on M. asterias to gain novel insights into its horizontal and vertical movements. Our data suggest that the habitat use of M. asterias changes on a seasonal basis, with associated changes in geographical distribution, depth utilisation and experienced temperature. We report the first direct evidence of philopatry for this species, and also provide initial evidence of sex-biased dispersal and potential metapopulation-like stock structuring either side of the UK continental shelf. Investigations of finer-scale vertical movements revealed clear diel variation in vertical activity. The illustrated patterns of seasonal space-use and behaviour will provide important information to support the stock assessment process and will help inform any future management options.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239480
spellingShingle Christopher A Griffiths
Serena R Wright
Joana F Silva
Jim R Ellis
David A Righton
Sophy R McCully Phillips
Horizontal and vertical movements of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in the northeast Atlantic.
PLoS ONE
title Horizontal and vertical movements of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in the northeast Atlantic.
title_full Horizontal and vertical movements of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in the northeast Atlantic.
title_fullStr Horizontal and vertical movements of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in the northeast Atlantic.
title_full_unstemmed Horizontal and vertical movements of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in the northeast Atlantic.
title_short Horizontal and vertical movements of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in the northeast Atlantic.
title_sort horizontal and vertical movements of starry smooth hound mustelus asterias in the northeast atlantic
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239480
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