Trophic ecology of the smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) off the coast of northern Peru

González-Pestana, Adriana; Acuña-Perales, Nicolas; Coasaca-Céspedes, Javier Jesús; Córdova-Zavaleta, Francisco; Alfaro‐Shigueto, Joanna; Mangel, Jeffrey C.; Espinoza, Pepe

doi:10.7755/fb.115.4.2

Cited by 14 publications

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“…No references to sharks’ supporting and regulatory roles in marine ecosystems were recorded in this study. However, sharks are important biological controllers of cephalopods in Peruvian waters (e.g., smooth hammerheads on the jumbo squid [ 43 ]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes and misconceptions towards sharks and shark meat consumption along the Peruvian coast

Lama

Puente

Riveros³

2018

PLoS ONE

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Misconceptions, lack of knowledge, and negative attitudes towards sharks act as barriers preventing actions required to tackle threats to shark populations, limiting the success of global shark conservation initiatives. Peru, a major player for the international trade of shark products, recently approved the ‘National Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras’ (PAN-Tib); a guiding document for conservation initiatives aimed at these fishes. Within PAN-Tib, the assessment of Peruvians’ current knowledge and attitudes towards sharks is listed as a research priority. Between June and October 2016, 2004 Peruvians were surveyed along the coast to characterize their (i) shark meat consumption patterns, and (ii) knowledge and attitudes towards sharks. Results suggest that shark meat consumption is extended, but not necessarily frequent, and higher in the northern regions of the country. However, 77.5% of shark meat consumers were unaware that they had eaten sharks. Although 57.6% of the participants recognized that sharks are present in Peruvian waters, only 19.4% of the surveyed population was capable of naming at least one local shark species. Moreover, Peruvians have very negative attitudes towards sharks. They fear them and view them as man-eaters, despite this, no shark attacks have ever been reported in the country. These results highlight the need to: (i) encourage sustainable shark meat consumption, and (ii) promote communication campaigns aimed at increasing knowledge about sharks, and their importance as a source of employment and food for coastal communities, as for the national economy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes and misconceptions towards sharks and shark meat consumption along the Peruvian coast

Lama

Puente

Riveros³

2018

PLoS ONE

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“…(2014a) and in Peru by Gonzalez-Pestana et al . (2017), consuming coastal prey during the juvenile stage and oceanic prey during the adult stage. This conclusion is supported by the abundance of D. gigas and S. oualaniensis and, to a lesser degree, of other squid species ( Histioteuthis spp., Mastigoteuthis spp., Onychoteuthis banksii and Ommastrephes bartramii ) in the shark's diet.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding habits and trophic level of the smooth hammerhead shark, Sphyrna zygaena (Carcharhiniformes: Sphyrnidae), off Ecuador

et al. 2018

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As apex predators, sharks are known to play an important role in marine food webs. Detailed information on their diet and trophic level is however needed to make clear inferences about their role in the ecosystem. A total of 335 stomachs of smooth hammerhead sharks, Sphyrna zygaena, were obtained from commercial fishing vessels operating in the Ecuadorian Pacific between January and December 2004. A total of 53 prey items were found in the stomachs. According to the Index of Relative Importance (%IRI), cephalopods were the main prey (Dosidicus gigas, Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis, Ancistrocheirus lesueurii and Lolliguncula [Loliolopsis] diomedeae). Sphyrna zygaena was thus confirmed to be a teutophagous species. The estimated trophic level of S. zygaena was between 4.6 and 5.1 (mean ± SD: 4.7 ± 0.16; males: 4.7; females: 4.8). Levin's index (BA) was low (overall: 0.07; males: 0.08; females: 0.09), indicating a narrow trophic niche. We found that sharks <150 cm in total length consumed prey of coastal origin, whereas sharks ≥150 cm foraged in oceanic waters and near the continental shelf. The analyses indicate that S. zygaena is a specialized predator consuming mainly squids.

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“…In northern Peru, the smooth hammerhead shark ( Sphyrna zygaena ) has a similar diet to thresher sharks, feeding mainly on two species (i.e. Doryteuthis gahi and D. gigas ) (Gonzalez-Pestana et al ., 2017). In Ecuador, blue sharks ( Prionace glauca ) also feed mainly on cephalopods (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the eastern Pacific, D. gigas is one of the most abundant and largest squids, and Peru reports the highest worldwide fishery landings (Nigmatullin et al ., 2001). In Peruvian waters, only two species had previously been reported preying on D. gigas : S. zygaena and sperm whales ( Physeter macrocephalus ) (Clarke et al ., 1976; Gonzalez-Pestana et al ., 2017). In this study, results indicate that thresher sharks are also important predators, which could potentially have an impact on the overall population of D. gigas in northern Peru; however, more advanced studies are needed to verify this.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding habits of thresher sharks Alopias sp. in northern Peru: predators of Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas)

et al. 2018

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The stomach contents of thresher sharks (Alopias spp.; 162–385 cm total length) were collected from five landing points in northern Peru during 2015. A total of 128 thresher sharks were sampled, with 38 individuals identified as Alopias pelagicus and 90 aggregated to the genus level Alopias sp. to prevent any misidentification. The diet comprised 13 and 10 prey taxa for Alopias sp. and A. pelagicus, respectively. Humboldt squid Dosidicus gigas dominated the diet of both groups, with only minor differences in the diet in relation to size classes and location. The diet of Alopias shows a high degree of specialization and the average trophic positions were high for both groups, A. pelagicus (4.4 ± 0.13) and Alopias sp. (4.5 ± 0.14).

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Trophic ecology of the smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) off the coast of northern Peru

Cited by 14 publications

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Attitudes and misconceptions towards sharks and shark meat consumption along the Peruvian coast

Attitudes and misconceptions towards sharks and shark meat consumption along the Peruvian coast

Feeding habits and trophic level of the smooth hammerhead shark, Sphyrna zygaena (Carcharhiniformes: Sphyrnidae), off Ecuador

Feeding habits of thresher sharks Alopias sp. in northern Peru: predators of Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas)

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