Factors shaping the co-occurrence of two juvenile shark species along the Texas Gulf Coast

Matich, Philip; Mohan, John A.; Plumlee, Jeffrey D.; TinHan, Tom; Wells, R. J. David; Fisher, Mark

doi:10.1007/s00227-017-3173-2

Cited by 13 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 96 publications

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“…The temporal occurrence of neonate bull sharks in the surveyed rivers is largely consistent with results of other studies (Matich et al, ). In the Rewa River however, the spatial occurrence of neonate specimens differs from data published elsewhere.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…It is generally assumed that, because the bull shark is a euryhaline species (Pillans et al, ; Reilly, Cramp, Wilson, Campbell, & Franklin, ) that can respond to sudden changes in salinity with minimal metabolic costs (Anderson et al, ), salinity would not be an important factor influencing the species' distribution and habitat use patterns. However, juvenile bull sharks occur mostly in low to moderate salinities ranging from 10 to 30 PSU, rarely in salinities greater than 35 PSU (Froeschke et al, ), and may have an affinity for areas with salinities between 7 and 20 PSU (Matich et al, ; Simpfendorfer et al, ). Recent evidence suggests that rising water temperatures and increasing salinities can lead to expansions of the species' nursery areas toward higher latitudes (Bangley et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, juvenile bull sharks occur mostly in low to moderate salinities ranging from 10 to 30 PSU, rarely in salinities greater than 35 PSU (Froeschke et al, 2010), and may have an affinity for areas with salinities between 7 and 20 PSU (Matich et al, 2017;Simpfendorfer et al, 2005). Recent evidence suggests that rising water temperatures and increasing salinities can lead to expansions of the species' nursery areas toward higher latitudes (Bangley et al, 2018).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Essential waters: Young bull sharks in Fiji's largest riverine system

Glaus

Brunnschweiler

Piovano

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Coastal and estuarine systems provide critical shark habitats due to their relatively high productivity and shallow, protected waters. The young (neonates, young‐of‐the‐year, and juveniles) of many coastal shark species occupy a diverse range of habitats and areas where they experience environmental variability, including acute and seasonal shifts in local salinities and temperatures. Although the location and functioning of essential shark habitats has been a focus in recent shark research, there is a paucity of data from the South Pacific. In this study, we document the temporal and spatial distribution, age class composition, and environmental parameters of young bull sharks ( Carcharhinus leucas ) in the Rewa, Sigatoka, and Navua Rivers, Fiji's three largest riverine systems. One hundred and seventy‐two young bull sharks were captured in fisheries‐independent surveys from January 2016 to April 2018. The vast majority of the captures were neonates. Seasonality in patterns of occurrence of neonate individuals suggests a defined parturition period during summer. Environmental parameters between the Rewa and the Sigatoka River differed significantly, as did the recorded young bull sharks abundance. According to the surveys, young bull sharks occur in all three rivers with the Rewa River likely representing essential habitat for newly born bull sharks. These results enhance the understanding of bull shark ecology in Fiji and provide a scientific basis for the implementation of local conservation strategies that contribute to the protection of critical habitats.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Essential waters: Young bull sharks in Fiji's largest riverine system

Glaus

Brunnschweiler

Piovano

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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“…A similar pattern of salinity‐dependent co‐occurrence was observed for Bull Sharks Carcharhinus leucas and Blacktip Sharks Carcharhinus limbatus along the Texas coast (Matich et al. ). Bull Sharks are euryhaline (similar to Red Drum), while Blacktip Sharks generally prefer moderate to high salinities (similar to Spotted Seatrout).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…Co‐occurrence of these species was observed in higher salinities compared to single‐species catch events, suggesting that overlap between them was limited in low‐salinity regions, where Blacktip Sharks were potentially excluded by physiological constraints and competitive interactions (Matich et al. ). Differences in the osmoregulatory and physiological tolerances of Red Drum and Spotted Seatrout may thus influence their co‐occurrence patterns in estuaries like Mobile Bay, where salinities are highly variable in both space and time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat Associations and Co‐Occurrence Patterns of Two Estuarine‐Dependent Predatory Fishes

et al. 2020

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Estuarine‐dependent fishes experience a wide range of environmental conditions, and most species exhibit distinct associations with particular habitats. However, similar species or multiple conspecifics often overlap spatiotemporally, which can result in ecological interactions that have consequences for behaviors that can shape the structure and function of ecosystems. We used a long‐term gill‐net data set (2001–2015) to investigate the habitat associations and co‐occurrence patterns of two estuarine‐dependent predatory fishes, Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus and Spotted Seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus, in coastal Alabama, USA. Both species were associated with similar environmental conditions, primarily low dissolved oxygen and low salinity, especially when temperature was low. However, differences emerged between the species with respect to the effects of interacting environmental variables on their habitat use patterns, which were likely driven by physiological, biological, and ecological dissimilarities between them. Concerning their biogenic habitat use, extensive submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) was an important habitat for both species, but Spotted Seatrout appeared to prefer high‐salinity SAV beds, while Red Drum associated with SAV regardless of salinity. Spotted Seatrout were associated with extensive emergent marsh edges, and the positive relationship between Red Drum and SAV was diminished when marsh edge was abundant. Co‐occurrence was observed primarily in habitats with which both species were associated, most frequently in shallow, prey‐rich marsh edges and high‐salinity seagrass beds. These observed habitat use patterns elucidate the subtle differences in resource use that allow these species to coexist and suggest potential areas where interactions between them may shape their roles as predators.

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