Mapping Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) in the Central and South American Pacific: Existing knowledge and data needs

Identifying critical habitats is key to the conservation and recovery of threatened species. A third of chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and chimaeras) are threatened with extinction but robust biological and ecological information to delineate critical habitats for many species remains limited. Here, we investigated (1) research outputs and trends across the Central and South American Pacific region to determine whether sufficient information was available to identify critical habitats; (2) whether regional Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) were spatially representative; (3) what species and which ecological traits were most commonly used in the delineation of critical habitats; and (4) discuss how ISRAs can inform research priorities and area-based management in support of chondrichthyan conservation. Sixty-five ISRAs were identified for 97 of 190 chondrichthyan species occurring in the region (51%). Across key life-history processes, reproductive areas were most identified (n = 50). Of 821 published studies (2,160 entries), 31.48% (28% entries) primarily focused on fisheries and 48.51% included enough information to inform the ISRA process. Most (58.98%) of these studies originated from Mexico (n = 342, 744 entries) and Ecuador (n = 147, 276 entries). France and Honduras had the least regional research outputs relevant to apply the ISRA Criteria. Significant ecological data gaps were identified in oceanic (including areas beyond national jurisdiction), deepwater (>200 m), and along the southern part of the region (i.e., southern Chile). Deepwater species, chimaeras, and 21% of threatened species had knowledge gaps that did not allow the identification of ISRAs. If area-based management decisions in this region were based on ISRAs, and effectively implemented and enforced, diversity hotspots and at least 97 species could receive protection, including 79% of threatened species and 54% of those considered range-restricted. Increased monitoring and research efforts, with a corresponding increase in funding to fill existing gaps is key to support the identification of important habitats across this region.

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Publication Details

Journal
PLoS ONE
Published
2025-05-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322445
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Ichthyology and Marine Biology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
6.94
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article

Mapping Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) in the Central and South American Pacific: Existing knowledge and data needs

Paola A. Mejía‐Falla, Ryan Charles, Mario Espinoza, Jorge Manuel Morales‐Saldaña et al.
3 citations
PLoS ONE
Ichthyology and Marine Biology
6.94
article

Mapping Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) in the Central and South American Pacific: Existing knowledge and data needs

Paola A. Mejía‐Falla, Ryan Charles, Mario Espinoza, Jorge Manuel Morales‐Saldaña, Alex R. Hearn, James Thomas Ketchum, Frida Lara-Lizardi, Emiliano García‐Rodríguez, Cristopher G. Avalos‐Castillo, Joanna Alfaro‐Shigueto, Rima W. Jabado, Oscar Sosa‐Nishizaki, Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Francisco Polanco-Vásquez, Yehudi Rodríguez-Arriatti, Elpis J. Chávez, Luz Erandi Saldaña-Ruiz, Naití Morales, Marta D. Palacios, Andrés F. Navia, Cesar R. Peñaherrera-Palma, Ana Hacohen-Domené, Felipe Galván‐Magaña, Ximena Vélez‐Zuazo, Adriana González‐Pestana
article en
3 citations

Abstract

Identifying critical habitats is key to the conservation and recovery of threatened species. A third of chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and chimaeras) are threatened with extinction but robust biological and ecological information to delineate critical habitats for many species remains limited. Here, we investigated (1) research outputs and trends across the Central and South American Pacific region to determine whether sufficient information was available to identify critical habitats; (2) whether regional Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) were spatially representative; (3) what species and which ecological traits were most commonly used in the delineation of critical habitats; and (4) discuss how ISRAs can inform research priorities and area-based management in support of chondrichthyan conservation. Sixty-five ISRAs were identified for 97 of 190 chondrichthyan species occurring in the region (51%). Across key life-history processes, reproductive areas were most identified (n = 50). Of 821 published studies (2,160 entries), 31.48% (28% entries) primarily focused on fisheries and 48.51% included enough information to inform the ISRA process. Most (58.98%) of these studies originated from Mexico (n = 342, 744 entries) and Ecuador (n = 147, 276 entries). France and Honduras had the least regional research outputs relevant to apply the ISRA Criteria. Significant ecological data gaps were identified in oceanic (including areas beyond national jurisdiction), deepwater (>200 m), and along the southern part of the region (i.e., southern Chile). Deepwater species, chimaeras, and 21% of threatened species had knowledge gaps that did not allow the identification of ISRAs. If area-based management decisions in this region were based on ISRAs, and effectively implemented and enforced, diversity hotspots and at least 97 species could receive protection, including 79% of threatened species and 54% of those considered range-restricted. Increased monitoring and research efforts, with a corresponding increase in funding to fill existing gaps is key to support the identification of important habitats across this region.

PLoS ONEVol. 20(5)
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (PA), Wildlife Conservation Society (US), Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (GT), Tethys Research Institute (IT), Universidad Científica del Sur (PE), Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (US), Universidad Católica del Norte (CL), Universidad de Costa Rica (CR), International Union for Conservation of Nature (United States) (US), Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (MX), International Union for Conservation of Nature (United Kingdom) (GB), Elasmo Project (AE), Secretaría de Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación (MX), Wildlife Conservation Society United Kingdom (GB), Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (CL), International Union for Conservation of Nature (CH), City of Knowledge (PA), McGill University (CA), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (MX), Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (MX), Universidad San Francisco de Quito (EC), James Cook University (AU), Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (GT)
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Ichthyology and Marine Biology
6.94
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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