Unveiling Macroecological Patterns of Elasmobranchs in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

ABSTRACT Aim To examine the species richness, distribution and macroecological patterns of elasmobranch assemblages across a broad latitudinal gradient in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). Location The study area encompasses the Pacific coast of the American continent, spanning from 65°N to 60°S, and extending from the coastline to approximately 1000 km offshore, encompassing the oceanic archipelagos. Taxon Elasmobranchs. Methods Utilising the established distribution ranges of 190 elasmobranch species (comprising 89 sharks and 101 rays), we assessed the richness and spatial distribution of these species across the EPO. Subsequently, three macroecological patterns were scrutinised: Rapoport's rule, the Mid Domain Effect with its association to Mean Sea Surface Temperature, and the correlation between body size and latitudinal distribution. Results The analysis of species richness along latitudinal gradients unveiled a bimodal pattern, reaching peaks between 30° to 20°N and 10°N to 5°S. A decline in species richness was observed from tropical to polar regions. Contrary to Rapoport's Rule, Stevens' and midpoint methods demonstrated higher geographic range values at lower latitudes, diminishing towards higher latitudes. Additionally, the mid‐domain effect model exhibited a robust correlation with the mean sea surface temperature. Exploring the interspecific relationship between body size and extent of occurrence, it was found that 29 out of 190 species are more susceptible to extinction. Main Conclusion Marine elasmobranchs of the EPO defy conventional latitudinal richness patterns and deviate from Rapoport's rule. Furthermore, our findings indicate a robust correlation between observed richness and both sea surface temperature and environmental heterogeneity. The proportion of species vulnerable to human or stochastic impacts potentially leading to extirpation in relation to their geographic range was low across the majority of examined provinces.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Biogeography
Published
2024-11-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.15037
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Ichthyology and Marine Biology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.38

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article

Unveiling Macroecological Patterns of Elasmobranchs in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

Paola A. Mejía‐Falla, Elisa Areano, Jeffrey C. Mangel, Jose Ágreda‐Arango et al.
2 citations
Journal of Biogeography
Ichthyology and Marine Biology
1.38
article

Unveiling Macroecological Patterns of Elasmobranchs in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

Paola A. Mejía‐Falla, Elisa Areano, Jeffrey C. Mangel, Jose Ágreda‐Arango, Jorge Manuel Morales‐Saldaña, Alex R. Hearn, David A. Ebert, Cristopher G. Avalos‐Castillo, Joanna Alfaro‐Shigueto, Héctor M. Guzmán, Oscar Sosa‐Nishizaki, Javier Tovar‐Ávila, José Sergio Hleap, Mario Espinoza, Francisco José Sánchez Concha, Heriberto Santana, Andrés F. Navia, Joseph J. Bizzarro, Ximena Vélez‐Zuazo, Adriana Cevallos, Víctor Hugo Cruz‐Escalona, Carlos Bustamante, Alberto González‐Leiva
article en
2 citations

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim To examine the species richness, distribution and macroecological patterns of elasmobranch assemblages across a broad latitudinal gradient in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). Location The study area encompasses the Pacific coast of the American continent, spanning from 65°N to 60°S, and extending from the coastline to approximately 1000 km offshore, encompassing the oceanic archipelagos. Taxon Elasmobranchs. Methods Utilising the established distribution ranges of 190 elasmobranch species (comprising 89 sharks and 101 rays), we assessed the richness and spatial distribution of these species across the EPO. Subsequently, three macroecological patterns were scrutinised: Rapoport's rule, the Mid Domain Effect with its association to Mean Sea Surface Temperature, and the correlation between body size and latitudinal distribution. Results The analysis of species richness along latitudinal gradients unveiled a bimodal pattern, reaching peaks between 30° to 20°N and 10°N to 5°S. A decline in species richness was observed from tropical to polar regions. Contrary to Rapoport's Rule, Stevens' and midpoint methods demonstrated higher geographic range values at lower latitudes, diminishing towards higher latitudes. Additionally, the mid‐domain effect model exhibited a robust correlation with the mean sea surface temperature. Exploring the interspecific relationship between body size and extent of occurrence, it was found that 29 out of 190 species are more susceptible to extinction. Main Conclusion Marine elasmobranchs of the EPO defy conventional latitudinal richness patterns and deviate from Rapoport's rule. Furthermore, our findings indicate a robust correlation between observed richness and both sea surface temperature and environmental heterogeneity. The proportion of species vulnerable to human or stochastic impacts potentially leading to extirpation in relation to their geographic range was low across the majority of examined provinces.

Journal of BiogeographyVol. 52(2)
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (US), Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (PA), Universidad de Antofagasta (CL), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US), University of California, Santa Cruz (US), University of Exeter (GB), Universidad Científica del Sur (PE), Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (US), Viña del Mar University (CL), Universidad de Costa Rica (CR), Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (MX), NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center (US), National Zoological Park (US), Ministerio de Salud Pública (EC), Conservation Biology Institute, McGill University (CA), University of El Salvador (SV), Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (MX), Universidad San Francisco de Quito (EC), South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (ZA), University of Valparaíso (CL), Francisco Gavidia University (SV), Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (US)
Smithsonian Institution, Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (COLCIENCIAS), Save Our Seas Foundation, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 17%
Ichthyology and Marine Biology
1.38
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