TY - JOUR
T1 - Trophic ecology of the smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna Zygaena) off the coast of northern Peru
AU - Gonzalez-Pestana, Adriana
AU - Acuña-Perales, Nicolas
AU - Coasaca-Cespedes, Javier
AU - Cordova-Zavaleta, Francisco
AU - Alfaro-Shigueto, Joanna
AU - Mangel, Jeffrey C.
AU - Espinoza, Pepe
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, National Marine Fisheries Service. All rights reserved.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - The smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) is the third most captured shark species in Peru, a nation with one of the largest shark fisheries in the Pacific Ocean. We sought to better understand the trophic ecology of this shark in northern Peru by analyzing stomach contents. From 2013 through 2015, we collected 485 samples of gut contents from sharks measuring 53-294 cm in total length. Our results show that the smooth hammerhead is a top predator with a diet dominated by jumbo flying squid (Dosidicus gigas) and the Patagonian squid (Doryteuthis (Amerigo) gahi). Smooth hammerheads displayed different diets with different body size, and this finding indicates that sharks change their distribution and habitat during development. This study represents the most comprehensive investigation to date of the trophic ecology of smooth hammerhead in waters off Peru. We propose that these waters represent an important eastern Pacific Ocean feeding ground for smooth hammerhead. Because this species is commercially important and also preys upon other commercial species, these findings could contribute to the design and implementation of plans for ecosystembased fisheries management.
AB - The smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) is the third most captured shark species in Peru, a nation with one of the largest shark fisheries in the Pacific Ocean. We sought to better understand the trophic ecology of this shark in northern Peru by analyzing stomach contents. From 2013 through 2015, we collected 485 samples of gut contents from sharks measuring 53-294 cm in total length. Our results show that the smooth hammerhead is a top predator with a diet dominated by jumbo flying squid (Dosidicus gigas) and the Patagonian squid (Doryteuthis (Amerigo) gahi). Smooth hammerheads displayed different diets with different body size, and this finding indicates that sharks change their distribution and habitat during development. This study represents the most comprehensive investigation to date of the trophic ecology of smooth hammerhead in waters off Peru. We propose that these waters represent an important eastern Pacific Ocean feeding ground for smooth hammerhead. Because this species is commercially important and also preys upon other commercial species, these findings could contribute to the design and implementation of plans for ecosystembased fisheries management.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85027306359&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.7755/FB.115.4.2
DO - 10.7755/FB.115.4.2
M3 - Artículo
AN - SCOPUS:85027306359
SN - 0090-0656
VL - 115
SP - 451
EP - 459
JO - Fishery Bulletin
JF - Fishery Bulletin
IS - 4
ER -