David A. Ebert

Extinction risk and conservation of the world’s sharks and rays

The rapid expansion of human activities threatens ocean-wide biodiversity. Numerous marine animal populations have declined, yet it remains unclear whether these trends are symptomatic of a chronic accumulation of global marine extinction risk. We present the first systematic analysis of threat for a globally distributed lineage of 1,041 chondrichthyan fishes—sharks, rays, and chimaeras. We estimate that one-quarter are threatened according to IUCN Red List criteria due to overfishing (targeted and incidental). Large-bodied, shallow-water species are at greatest risk and five out of the seven most threatened families are rays. Overall chondrichthyan extinction risk is substantially higher than for most other vertebrates, and only one-third of species are considered safe. Population depletion has occurred throughout the world’s ice-free waters, but is particularly prevalent in the Indo-Pacific Biodiversity Triangle and Mediterranean Sea. Improved management of fisheries and trade is urgently needed to avoid extinctions and promote population recovery. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00590.001

Comparative feeding ecology of four sympatric skate species off central California, USA

The big (Raja binoculata), California (R. inornata), longnose (R. rhina), and sandpaper (Bathyraja kincaidii), skates are commonly found on soft-bottom regions of the central California continental shelf and upper slope. The feeding ecology of this assemblage was compared to evaluate the degree of trophic separation among species, based on the results of previous species-specific diet studies. Specimens were collected from fishery independent trawl surveys conducted during September 2002–March 2003 at depths of 9–536 m. Using single and compound measures, diet composition of small (≤60 cm TL) and large (>60 cm TL) individuals were compared within continental shelf (≤200 m) and slope (>200 m) regions using traditional, multivariate, and novel techniques. Diet compositions within size classes were similar in both regions. Diet compositions between size classes generally differed, however, with fishes more important and crustaceans (especially shrimps and euphausiids) less important in the diets of large individuals. Crabs contributed substantially to skate diet compositions on the shelf, but were uncommon prey items at deeper depths, probably because of their relative scarcity in slope waters. Conversely, cephalopods were common prey items at slope depths, but were rarely ingested at shelf depths. The studied skate assemblage appears to consist primarily of generalist crustacean and fish predators that exhibit high dietary overlap at similar sizes. It is possible that resource competition among skates and groundfish species has been reduced because of considerable recent declines in the biomass of upper trophic level groundfishes. Skates may therefore play important roles in contemporary benthic food web dynamics off central California.

Ontogenetic changes in the diet of the sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus)

The sevengill shark, Notorynchus cepedianus, is a versatile predator capable of feeding on a wide variety of prey species. Stomach content analyses were performed on specimens from California, USA, and southern Africa to investigate whether dietary differences occur in relation to sex and size. Of the 531 specimens examined, 365 (68.7%) contained prey items. The dietary trend with growth and maturity shifted from teleosts to chondrichthyans, with marine mammals becoming increasingly important in the larger size classes of N. cepedianus. Small N. cepedianus ( 220 cm TL, while teleosts declined to 6% and 13% for male and female sharks, respectively. A decrease was observed in the dietary overlap of each successively larger size class. Ontogenetic changes in the diet of N. cepedianus may provide insight into understanding how adults enhance the survivorship of their young, who are often less experienced at foraging for prey and are more vulnerable to predation.

A preliminary investigation of the feeding ecology of skates (Batoidea: Rajidae) off the west coast of southern Africa

The diets of 14 species of skates (Rajiformes: Rajidae) collected along the coast of South-Western Africa between Walvis Bay and Cape Agulhas over a depth range of 50–1 016 m were analysed. Two distinct communities of skates could be recognized on the basis of depth zonation, the boundary between these communities being at approximately 380 m water depth. These two skate communities have similar species components: the so-called biscuit skate community (the shallow one) has two crustacean specialists (Cruriraja parcomaculata, Raja wallacei), one fish specialist (R. alba) and two generalists (R. pullopunctata, R. cf. clavata); the so-named grey skate community has two crustacean specialists (Raja caudaspinosa, R. confundens) and two generalists (Bathyraja smithii, R. leopardus). The grey skate community appears to be a more complex and dynamic assemblage with higher diversity (at least 13 species) than the biscuit skate community (five species). In both communities the most common prey items were crustacea...

Distribution of offshore demersal cartilaginous fish (Class Chondrichthyes) off the west coast of southern Africa, with notes on their systematics

The geographic and the bathymetric distribution of offshore demersal cartilaginous fish off the west coast of southern Africa are reviewed. The results were collected during 12 cruises of F.R.S. Africana between 1986 and 1990. The area covered was between Walvis Bay (23°S, 14°E) and the Agulhas Bank west of Cape Agulhas (36°S, 20°E) over a depth range of 33–1 016 m. In all, 55 species of cartilaginous fish were collected, including 32 sharks, 17 rays and six chimaeras, on 869 stations and representing 3 092 station records. Computer-generated maps and station lists are presented for the species in the sample, and the distribution records, including records from the literature, are reviewed and discussed for these species and 12 more demersal species not collected during the survey. The survey revealed many range extensions for described species. West Coast demersal cartilaginous fish show zonation by depth and latitude, and groups of species with similar depth and latitudinal distributions were apparent. ...

Breaking with tradition: redefining measures for diet description with a case study of the Aleutian skate Bathyraja aleutica (Gilbert 1896)

Characterization of fish diets from stomach content analysis commonly involves the calculation of multiple relative measures of prey quantity (%N,%W,%FO), and their combination in the standardized Index of Relative Importance (%IRI). Examining the underlying structure of dietary data matrices reveals interdependencies among diet measures, and obviates the advantageous use of underused prey-specific measures to diet characterization. With these interdependencies clearly realized as formal mathematical expressions, we proceed to isolate algebraically, the inherent bias in %IRI, and provide a correction for it by substituting traditional measures with prey-specific measures. The resultant new index, the Prey-Specific Index of Relative Importance (%PSIRI), is introduced and recommended to replace %IRI for its demonstrated more balanced treatment of the relative measures of prey quantity, and less erroneous behavior across taxonomic levels of identified prey. As a case study, %PSIRI was used to examine the diet of the Aleutian skate Bathyraja aleutica from specimens collected from three ecoregions of the northern Gulf of Alaska (GOA) continental shelf during June-September 2005–2007. Aleutian skate were found to primarily consume the commonly abundant benthic crustaceans, northern pink shrimp Pandalus eous and Tanner crab Chionoecetes bairdi, and secondarily consume various teleost fishes. Multivariate variance partitioning by Redundancy Analysis revealed spatially driven differences in the diet to be as influential as skate size, sex, and depth of capture. Euphausiids and other mid-water prey in the diet were strongly associated with the Shelikof Strait region during 2007 that may be explained by atypical marine climate conditions during that year.

A preliminary investigation of the feeding ecology of squaloid sharks off the west coast of southern Africa

The diets of 15 species of squaloid sharks caught between Walvis Bay and Cape Agulhas over a depth range of 50–1 016 m are analysed. The most common prey items were fish and cephalopods. Hake Merluccius spp. were common in the diets of Centrophorus squamosus, Squalus acanthias, and S. cf. mitsukurii. Myctophids were extensively preyed on by Centroscyllium fabricii, Deania calcea, D. profundorum, Etmopterus cf. brachyurus, E. compagnoi, S. acanthias and S. megalops, among others. The most common cephalopods in shark stomachs were Histioteuthis miranda, Lycoteuthis ?diadema, Octopus vulgaris and Todarodes angolensis. Crustaceans were uncommon prey of most species, except for Centroscyllium fabricii and Etmopterus cf. granulosus. Centroscymnus coelolepis was the only squaloid with cetacean remains in the stomach. That species appears to parasitize its cetacean victims.

Diet, feeding behaviour and habitat utilisation of the blue stingray Dasyatis chrysonota (Smith, 1828) in South African waters

Analysis of stomach contents for Dasyatis chrysonota revealed that diet varied with size and habitat. The diet of all size classes in the surf zone was comprised primarily of Callianassa spp., Donax spp. and unidentified polychaete species. The medium and large size classes fed primarily on Donax spp., whereas the very large size class fed mainly on Callianassa spp. Polychaetes were of secondary importance as prey for the medium size class. The diet of D. chrysonota in the nearshore zone consisted mainly of Balanoglossus capensis and Callianassa spp. Balanoglossus capensis decreased from an index of relative importance (IRI) of 75.3% for the medium size class to 59.9% for the very large size class, whereas Callianassa spp. increased from 22.8% to 39.4% between the medium and the very large size classes. The offshore zone was the only area in which small size class D. chrysonota were caught. The diet of these small D. chrysonota was primarily polychaetes and amphipods. Polychaetes increased in importance in the medium size class, but declined in each successively larger size class. Conversely, Pterygosquilla armata capensis became the single most important prey item for the very large size class, comprising an IRI of 50.9%. The behaviour pattern used by D. chrysonota to locate and extract prey is described.

Food habits of the Longnose Skate, Raja rhina (Jordan and Gilbert, 1880), in central California waters

Feeding studies can provide researchers with important insights towards understanding potential fishery impacts on marine systems. Raja rhina is one of the most common elasmobranch species landed in central and northern California demersal fisheries, yet life history information is extremely limited for this species and aspects of its diet are unknown. Specimens of R. rhina were collected between September, 2002 and August, 2003 from fisheries-independent trawl surveys. Percent Index of Relative Importance values indicated that the five most important prey items in 618 stomachs of R. rhina were unidentified teleosts (31.6% IRI), unidentified shrimps (19.6% IRI), unidentified euphausiids (10.9% IRI), Crangonidae (7.4% IRI), and Neocrangon resima (6.0% IRI). There were significant dietary shifts with increasing skate total length and with increasing depths. Smaller skates ate small crustaceans and larger skates ate larger fishes and cephalopods. With increasing depths, diet included bentho-pelagic teleosts and more cephalopods and euphausiids. The findings of this study are consistent with previous researchers that report similar diet shifts in skate species with size and depth.

Food habits of the sandpaper skate, Bathyraja kincaidii (Garman, 1908) off central California: seasonal variation in diet linked to oceanographic conditions

The stomachs of 130 sandpaper skates, Bathyraja kincaidii (Garman, 1908), were sampled from off central California to determine their diet composition. The overall diet was dominated by euphausiids, but shrimps, polychaetes and squids were also important secondary prey. A three-factor MANOVA demonstrated significant differences in the diet by sex, maturity status and oceanographic season using numeric and gravimetric measures of importance for the major prey categories. These three main factors explained more variation in diet than interactions between the factors, and season explained the most variance overall. A detailed analysis of the seasonal variation among the prey categories indicated that abundance changes in the most important prey, euphausiids, were coupled with seasonal changes in the importance of other prey. When upwelling occurred and productivity was great (Upwelling and Oceanic seasons), euphausiids were likely highly abundant in the study area and were the most important prey for B. kincaidii. As productivity declined (Davidson Current season), euphausiids appeared to decrease in abundance and B. kincaidii switched to secondary prey. At that time, gammarid amphipods and shrimps became the most important prey items and polychaetes, mysids and euphausiids were secondary.