The Espiritu Santo Island as a critical area for conserving batoid assemblage species within the Gulf of California

González-González, Lorem del Valle; Mejía‐Falla, Paola A.; Navia, Andrés F.; Cruz-Agüero, Gustavo De la; Ehemann, Nicolás; Peterson, Mark S.; Cruz-Escalona, Víctor Hugo

doi:10.1007/s10641-021-01165-w

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…The result is a valuable scientific baseline that addresses topics such as diet ( Cabrera-Melendez, 2017 ; Ehemann et al, 2019 ; Restrepo-Gómez et al, 2021 ), reproduction ( e.g ., Ehemann et al, 2017 ; Burgos-Vázquez et al, 2017 , 2018 ), artisanal fisheries ( González-González et al, 2020 ), age and growth ( Mora-Zamacona et al, 2021 ; Pabón-Aldana et al, 2022 ), and the role of ESI as a nursery habitat ( e.g ., pygmy devil rays, Mobula munkiana , Palacios et al, 2021 ). As a result, ESI has been pointed as a critical area for conserving batoid assemblages within the Gulf of California ( González-González et al, 2021 ), providing batoid species with different niches, habitats, and resources. Nonetheless, this is the first study analyzing the dietary niche dynamics and resource partitioning patterns among and within the three most abundant and fished species in the area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trophic assessment of three sympatric batoid species in the Southern Gulf of California

Enríquez-García,

Cruz-Escalona,

Carriquiry

et al. 2023

PeerJ

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The competitive exclusion principle establishes that the coexistence of closely related species requires a certain degree of resource partitioning. However, populations have individuals with different morphological or behavioral traits (e.g., maturity stages, sexes, temporal or spatial segregation). This interaction often results in a multi-level differentiation in food preferences and habits. We explored such resource partitioning between and within three batoid species: Hypanus dipterurus, Narcine entemedor, and Rhinoptera steindachneri in the southern Gulf of California, Mexico, using a combination of stomach content (excluding R. steindachneri) and stable isotope analyses. We found a clear differentiation between H. dipterurus and N. entemedor, where the latter exhibited more benthic habitats, supported by a greater association to infaunal prey and higher δ13C values. Though the degree and patterns of intra-specific segregation varied among species, there was a notable differentiation in both sex and stage of maturity, corresponding to changes in specialization (i.e., isotopic niche breadth) or trophic spectrum (varying prey importance and isotopic values per group). This work is a promising step towards understanding the dietary niche dynamics of these species in a potentially important feeding area within the southern Gulf of California, as well as the biological and ecological mechanisms that facilitate their coexistence.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trophic assessment of three sympatric batoid species in the Southern Gulf of California

Enríquez-García,

Cruz-Escalona,

Carriquiry

et al. 2023

PeerJ

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“…The total number of mobulids captured by the artisanal fleet at Margarita Island during this study was higher than other mobulid fishery records in the Caribbean Sea (Ehemann et al ., 2017; González‐González & Ehemann, 2019), the Gulf of Mexico (Del Moral‐Flores et al ., 2020) and Brazil (Gadig et al ., 2003; Gadig & Sampaio, 2002), but significantly lower than those recorded in the Gulf of California (González‐González et al ., 2020, 2021; Palacios et al ., 2021; Serrano‐López et al ., 2021). M. mobular was the most frequently landed species in this study ( n = 26 or 60.5%), which is congruent with other similar studies ( e.g ., Alfaro‐Cordova et al ., 2017; Coasaca‐Céspedes et al ., 2019; Gaskins, 2019; Serrano‐López et al ., 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manta and devil ray species occurrence and distribution in Venezuela, assessed through fishery landings and citizen science data

Ehemann

Acosta-Rodríguez

Tagliafico

et al. 2022

Journal of Fish Biology

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Manta and devil rays (collectively mobulids) belong to the monogeneric Mobulidae, which currently comprises 10 species, including a putative third manta ray species (Mobula cf. birostris). These large planktivorous rays are distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical oceans of the world. To date, six mobulid species are reported for the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, three of which had previously been reported in Venezuela (Mobula birostris, Mobula tarapacana and Mobula hypostoma). A preliminary assessment of fishery landings and citizen science data was conducted to further the scientific knowledge of mobulid species in Venezuela. Fisheries landing data were collected at Margarita Island between 2006 and 2007, and again in 2014. Data mining of internet search engines and social media platforms spanning the past two decades was also conducted. A total of 117 individuals of five mobulid species were recorded: Mobula sp. (n = 27), M. birostris (n = 36), M. tarapacana (n = 3), Mobula mobular (n = 26),Mobula thurstoni (n = 14) and M. cf. birostris (n = 11). The latter three species are the first confirmation of these species in Venezuela. The authors found no records of the previously reported M. hypostoma during this study. Although the occurrence of M. hypostoma in Venezuela remains possible because of the broad regional range of this species, its current presence in Venezuela is invalidated given the repeated misidentifications which have occurred in previous publications. The results of this study increase the number of reported mobulid ray species in Venezuela to five (excluding M. hypostoma). The overall data from juvenile manta rays and pregnant M. mobular and M. thurstoni recorded in this study, combined with the occurrence of all but one species of mobulid ray found in the western Atlantic Ocean, suggest Venezuela provides important habitat for this threatened family of rays.

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“…Morphological anomalies recorded in this study for the Urobatis maculatus , Urotrygon chilensis , U. microphthalmum and U. rogersi individuals are most likely related to after‐birth injuries rather than genetic and anthropogenic issues, as has been proposed by other authors (Mejía‐Falla et al., 2011; Suresh & Raffi, 2012; Torres‐Huerta et al., 2015). For example, the majority of the American Batomorphi species are considered as mesopredators, connecting the lower trophic level with the higher levels (Bornatowski et al., 2014; Ehemann et al., 2019; González‐González et al., 2021; Navia et al., 2017; Olmo‐Gilabert et al., 2019; Oñate‐González et al., 2017; Restrepo‐Gómez et al., 2020; Rupp & Bornatowski, 2021; Serrano‐Flores et al., 2021), which supports the speculation of predation of the small‐bodied batomorphs found in this study. However, fishermen's causes, such as amputation, could not be ruled out as probable cause either.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological abnormalities in seven American round ray specimens: A review of America's batomorph anomalies

Ehemann¹,

García‐Rodríguez²,

Cruz‐Agüero³

2021

Journal of Fish Diseases

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Although morphological abnormalities in several rays and skate species around the American continents have frequently mentioned, their numbers are unknown. The present work record morphological abnormalities in four Urotrygonidae species. Two anophthalmic specimens were detected (Urotrygon microphthalmum and Urobatis halleri). Two individuals lacked caudal fins (Urobatis maculatus and Urotrygon chilensis). Two round rays showed incomplete fusion of the pectoral fin to the head (U. microphthalmum and U. chilensis). Vertebral compression and fusion were found in a 6‐year‐old female Urotrygon rogersi. In addition, 118 abnormal batomorph specimens were gathered from the available bibliography, spanning the last six decades (1959–2021). Amblyraja doellojuradoi was the species with the highest number of abnormalities (18). The most common anomaly was an incomplete fusion of the pectoral fin with the head. Since 2010, at least 30 anomalous batomorphs have been recorded every 5 years. Sixty‐nine abnormal specimens occurred in the Northern Hemisphere (1.00–60.00 N). The Cortezian (Pacific) and Southeastern Brazil (Atlantic) marine ecoregions stood out with the highest number of these specimens. Mexico recorded 58 anomalous specimens, followed by Brazil (n = 36). Biological, abiotic and anthropogenic factors are probably the leading causes. However, additional studies are necessary to elucidate these speculations.

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The Espiritu Santo Island as a critical area for conserving batoid assemblage species within the Gulf of California

Cited by 5 publications

References 82 publications

Trophic assessment of three sympatric batoid species in the Southern Gulf of California

Trophic assessment of three sympatric batoid species in the Southern Gulf of California

Manta and devil ray species occurrence and distribution in Venezuela, assessed through fishery landings and citizen science data

Morphological abnormalities in seven American round ray specimens: A review of America's batomorph anomalies

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