Journal article
Resource use of great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran) off eastern Australia
Journal of Fish Biology, Vol.95(6), pp.1430-1440
12/2019
PMID: 31613987
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Great hammerhead sharks Sphyrna mokarran are the largest member of Sphyrnidae, yet the roles of these large sharks in the food webs of coastal ecosystems are still poorly understood. Here we obtained samples of muscle, liver and vertebrae from large S. mokarran (234–383 cm total length; LT) caught as by-catch off eastern Australia and used stable-isotope analyses of δ15N, δ13C and δ34S to infer their resource use and any associated ontogenetic patterns. The results indicated large S. mokarran are apex predators primarily relying on other sharks and rays for their diet, with a preference for benthic resources such as Australian cownose rays Rhinoperon neglecta during the austral summer. Teleosts, cephalopods and crustaceans were not significant components of S. mokarran diets, though some conspecifics appeared to rely on more diverse resources over the austral summer. Ontogenetic shifts in resource use were detected but trajectories of the increases in trophic level varied among individuals. Most S. mokarran had non-linear trajectories in ontogenetic resource-use shifts implying size was not the main explanatory factor. Stable isotope values of δ13C and δ34S in muscle suggest S. mokarran span coastal, pelagic and benthic food webs in eastern Australia.
Details
- Title
- Resource use of great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran) off eastern Australia
- Creators
- Vincent Raoult - University of NewcastleMatt K Broadhurst - Southern Cross UniversityVic M Peddemors - Sydney Institute of Marine Science, AustraliaJane E Williamson - Macquarie UniversityTroy F Gaston - University of Newcastle
- Publication Details
- Journal of Fish Biology, Vol.95(6), pp.1430-1440
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.; England
- Grant note
- NSW Department of Primary Industries. Grant Number: N/A Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation. Grant Number: SWR/1/2018
- Identifiers
- 991012925566202368
- Copyright
- © 2019 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article