First reports of smalltooth sand tiger sharks, Odontaspis ferox (Elasmobranchii:Â Lamniformes: Odontaspididae), off the continental Ecuador

The first report of two smalltooth sand tiger sharks, Odontaspis ferox (Risso, 1810), off the continental Ecuador is presented herewith. The specimens were captured by the Ecuadorian fishing fleet and landed in Manta and Puerto López Canton, Ecuador. The juvenile female specimen was registered in November 2008 and the adult male in July 2009.  Both of the specimens recorded extend the geographic range of distribution of O. ferox in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean

Trophic inference in two sympatric sharks, Sphyrna lewini and Carcharhinus falciformis (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhiniformes), based on stable isotope analysis at Malpelo Island, Colombia

Background. Elasmobranchs can play important roles in marine communities. But, relatively little is known about their diet, and movement. Sphyrna lewini (Griffith et Smith, 1834) consumes fishes, cephalopods, rays, and crustaceans. Carcharhinus falciformis (Müller et Henle, 1839) feed on fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans and sea turtles. To date, there are no studies available on the trophic ecology of sharks in Malpelo Island. The aim of this study was to describe the trophic ecology of S. lewini and C. falciformis, using stable isotope analysis of δ13C and δ15N, to better understand the role of both shark species in the Malpelo Island ecosystem. Materials and methods. In January, February, and November 2013, specimens of Sphyrna lewini and Carcharhinus falciformis illegally caught at Malpelo Island were confiscated at the port of Buenaventura, Colombia. For each shark specimen, total length and sex were registered. Samples of muscle tissue were taken from the nape of all specimens. Each muscle sample was lyophilized for 24 h and analysed with lipid and urea extraction and without extraction. For each shark specimen, a subsample of ~1.0 mg was used for isotopic analysis. Results. A total of 14 Sphyrna lewini (Griffith et Smith, 1834) and 12 Carcharhinus falciformis (Müller et Henle, 1839) were analysed. δ13C values were similar between S. lewini (–16.3 ± 0.1‰) and C. falciformis (–16.5 ± 0.1‰). Sphyrna lewini showed a wider trophic niche than C. falciformis, with low trophic overlap (5%) between the two species. The δ15N values of S. lewini (15.9 ± 0.11‰) were higher than those of C. falciformis (14.9 ± 0.09‰). In C. falciformis, δ13C values were similar in both sexes (–16.5 ± 0.1‰), while δ15N values were significantly different between males (14.6 ± 0.1‰) and females (15.0 ± 0.1‰). The trophic position of S. lewini was 5.25 ± 0.12, and that of C. falciformis, 5.48 ± 0.18, which suggests that both shark species occupy a high position in the marine food chain. Conclusion. Both shark species co-occur at Malpelo Island, but they do not share food resources and feeding areas, and they probably feed far from the island, using it as a resting and cleaning area. This indicates the need for more research to increase biological and ecological knowledge of both species, particularly within marine protected areas and their influence areas throughout the Colombian Pacific

Research priorities for the conservation of chondrichthyans in Latin America

Latin American countries have a high diversity of sharks, rays, and chimaeras, yet many species are at high risk of extinction due to numerous threats. The conservation of chondrichthyans is key to achieving healthy and productive aquatic ecosystems, and countries in Latin America are increasingly recognizing the need for aligning conservation strategies across jurisdictions with similar ecological and socioeconomic challenges. Reflecting on the current state of knowledge and providing consensus expert opinion on research priorities are critical steps to ensure sound management and conservation strategies for chondrichthyans. The present study is a multinational collaboration by leading researchers in Latin America to identify the top-ten research priorities for the conservation of chondrichthyans within this region. Our results were highlighted from a total of 20 broader relevant topics including taxonomy and biology, ecological function, climate change and other stressors, contribution to local economies, and international collaboration. This constitutes the first comprehensive academic perspective on research priorities for chondrichthyans in Latin America which considers the varied perceptions and perspectives related to the management of sharks, rays, and chimaeras across the region and beyond. The main conservation implications highlighted by our study relate to the urgent need to implement, evaluate and/or improve management regulations based on scientific evidence and interdisciplinary research, especially in areas with little progress on the subject and/or where species threatened by extinction are distributed.Fil: Becerril García, Edgar E.. Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Mexico. Centro de Investigacion Cientifica y de Educacion Superior de Ensenada Baja California.; MéxicoFil: Arauz, Randall. Programa Restauracion de Tortugas Marinas; Costa Rica. MigraMar; Estados UnidosFil: Arellano Martínez, Marcial. Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Mexico. Centro de Investigacion Cientifica y de Educacion Superior de Ensenada Baja California.; MéxicoFil: Bonfil, Ramón. El Colegio de la Frontera Sur-unidad Chetumal; México. Océanos Vivientes A. C.; MéxicoFil: Ayala Bocos, Arturo. Ecosistemas y Conservacion: Proazul Terrestre A. C.; MéxicoFil: Castillo Géniz, José L.. Programa Tiburones y Rayas de Baja California; MéxicoFil: Carrera Fernández, Maribel. Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí; EcuadorFil: Charvet, Patricia. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Chiaramonte, Gustavo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Hidrobiológica de Puerto Quequén (sede Quequén); ArgentinaFil: Cisneros Montemayor, Andrés M.. University Fraser Simon; CanadáFil: Concha, Francisco. Universidad de Valparaíso; ChileFil: Espinoza, Mario. Universidad de Costa Rica; Costa RicaFil: Ehemann, Nicolás R.. Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Mexico. Centro de Investigacion Cientifica y de Educacion Superior de Ensenada Baja California.; México. Universidad de Oriente.; Cuba. Proyecto Iniciativa Batoideos; VenezuelaFil: Estupiñán Montaño, Colombo. Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Mexico. Centro de Investigacion Cientifica y de Educacion Superior de Ensenada Baja California.; México. Fundación Alium Pacific; ColombiaFil: Fuentes, Karen. Manta Mexico Caribe; MéxicoFil: Galván Magaña, Felipe. Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Mexico. Centro de Investigacion Cientifica y de Educacion Superior de Ensenada Baja California.; MéxicoFil: Graham, Rachel. Maralliance; PanamáFil: Hacohen Domené, Ana. Universidad del Valle de Guatemala; GuatemalaFil: Hazin, Fabio. Universidad Federal Rural Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Hernández, Sebastián. Universidad Católica del Norte; ChileFil: Hoyos Padilla, Edgar M.. Pelagios Kakunja A.c.; MéxicoFil: Ketchum, James T.. Pelagios Kakunja A.c.; MéxicoFil: Kingma, Irene. Dutch Elasmobranch Society; Países BajosFil: Méndez, Oscar. Universidad Veracruzana; MéxicoFil: Oddone, María C.. Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande.; BrasilFil: Pérez Jiménez, Juan C.. El Colegio de la Frontera del Sur; MéxicoFil: Petatán-Ramírez, D.. Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur; MéxicoFil: Polo Silva, Carlos. Coastal Marine Education And Research Academy; Estados UnidosFil: Rangel, Bianca. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Salinas De León, P.. Charles Darwin Research Station; EcuadorFil: Santana Morales, Omar. Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur; MéxicoFil: Zanella, Ilena. Asociacion Conservacionista Mision Tiburon; Costa RicaFil: Vélez Zuazo, Ximena. Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Godard Codding, Céline A.G.. Texas Tech University; Estados Unido