Widespread diversity deficits of coral reef sharks and rays

Colin A. Simpfendorfer*, Michael R. Heithaus, Michelle R. Heupel, M. Aaron MacNeil, Mark Meekan, Euan Harvey, C. Samantha Sherman, Leanne M. Currey-Randall, Jordan S. Goetze, Jeremy J. Kiszka, Matthew J. Rees, Conrad W. Speed, Vinay Udyawer, Mark E. Bond, Kathryn I. Flowers, Gina M. Clementi, Jasmine Valentin-Albanese, M. Shiham Adam, Khadeeja Ali, Jacob AsherEva Aylagas, Océane Beaufort, Cecilie Benjamin, Anthony T.F. Bernard, Michael L. Berumen, Stacy Bierwagen, Chico Birrell, Erika Bonnema, Rosalind M.K. Bown, Edward J. Brooks, J. Jed Brown, Dayne Buddo, Patrick J. Burke, Camila Cáceres, Marta Cambra, Diego Cardeñosa, Jeffrey C. Carrier, Sara Casareto, Jennifer E. Caselle, Venkatesh Charloo, Joshua E. Cinner, Thomas Claverie, Eric E.G. Clua, Jesse E.M. Cochran, Neil Cook, Jessica E. Cramp, Laura Gajdzik, Royale S. Hardenstine, Ashlie McIvor, Julia L.Y. Spaet

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

A global survey of coral reefs reveals that overfishing is driving resident shark species toward extinction, causing diversity deficits in reef elasmobranch (shark and ray) assemblages. Our species-level analysis revealed global declines of 60 to 73% for five common resident reef shark species and that individual shark species were not detected at 34 to 47% of surveyed reefs. As reefs become more shark-depleted, rays begin to dominate assemblages. Shark-dominated assemblages persist in wealthy nations with strong governance and in highly protected areas, whereas poverty, weak governance, and a lack of shark management are associated with depauperate assemblages mainly composed of rays. Without action to address these diversity deficits, loss of ecological function and ecosystem services will increasingly affect human communities.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1155-1160
Number of pages6
JournalScience
Volume380
Issue number6650
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 16 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Core funding for Global FinPrint was provided by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (to D.D.C. and M.R.Hei.).

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 the authors, some rights reserved.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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