Journal article
Collaborative methods identify a remote global diversity hotspot of threatened, large‐bodied rhino rays
Aquatic conservation, Early View
2024
Abstract
1. North‐western Australia is considered a refuge to several highly threatened elasmobranch species, but there has been little research effort targeting lesser known, large‐bodied rhino rays. This study identified 2,343 records of globally threatened rays of the order Rhinopristiformes from the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with a focus on the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area and adjacent Exmouth Gulf.
2. Occurrence data were compiled from various sources including commercial fishing reports (35%), citizen science records (34%), targeted scientific surveys (30%) and published literature (1%). The region was inhabited by all of Australia's Pristidae (four sawfish species), all of Australia's Rhinidae (three wedgefish species) and the sole Australian representative of the Glaucostegidae (giant shovelnose ray). Of the 2,343 records, ~49% were sawfishes, while giant guitarfish and wedgefishes contributed to ~33% and 18% of records, respectively.
3. The Exmouth Gulf appears to be a globally important refuge and pupping area for green sawfish ( Pristis zijsron ) which was the most commonly encountered pristid. Bottlenose wedgefish ( Rhynchobatus australiae ) were the most commonly identified rhinid, with less frequent encounters of shark rays ( Rhina ancylostoma ) and eyebrow wedgefish ( Rhynchobatus palpebratus ). The Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area and adjacent Exmouth Gulf host all life stages of giant shovelnose ray ( Glaucostegus typus ).
4. The combined use of several data sources has highlighted the study region as a ‘lifeboat’ for these globally threatened large‐bodied rays. These data are essential in creating effective conservation and management plans in this globally important refuge, and are highly relevant to global conservation initiatives.
Details
- Title
- Collaborative methods identify a remote global diversity hotspot of threatened, large‐bodied rhino rays
- Authors/Creators
- Rebecca L. Bateman - Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute Murdoch University Murdoch Western Australia Australia, Fin Focus Research Exmouth Western Australia AustraliaDavid L. Morgan - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic EcosystemsBarbara E. Wueringer - Macquarie UniversityMatthew McDavitt - Sawfish Conservation Society Bradenton Florida USAKarissa O. Lear - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
- Publication Details
- Aquatic conservation, Early View
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Identifiers
- 991005628869507891
- Copyright
- © 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.2 Marine Biology
- 3.2.92 Fisheries Ecology
- Web Of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences
- Marine & Freshwater Biology
- Water Resources
- ESI research areas
- Environment/Ecology