Cited 3 times since 2023 (3.4 per year) source: EuropePMC Science (New York, N.Y.), Volume 380, Issue 6650, 15 3 2023, Pages 1155-1160 Widespread diversity deficits of coral reef sharks and rays. Simpfendorfer CA, Heithaus MR, Heupel MR, MacNeil MA, Meekan M, Harvey E, Sherman CS, Currey-Randall LM, Goetze JS, Kiszka JJ, Rees MJ, Speed CW, Udyawer V, Bond ME, Flowers KI, Clementi GM, Valentin-Albanese J, Adam MS, Ali K, Asher J, Aylagas E, Beaufort O, Benjamin C, Bernard ATF, Berumen ML, Bierwagen S, Birrell C, Bonnema E, Bown RMK, Brooks EJ, Brown JJ, Buddo D, Burke PJ, Cáceres C, Cambra M, Cardeñosa D, Carrier JC, Casareto S, Caselle JE, Charloo V, Cinner JE, Claverie T, Clua EEG, Cochran JEM, Cook N, Cramp JE, D'Alberto BM, de Graaf M, Dornhege MC, Espinoza M, Estep A, Fanovich L, Farabaugh NF, Fernando D, Ferreira CEL, Fields CYA, Flam AL, Floros C, Fourqurean V, Gajdzik L, Barcia LG, Garla R, Gastrich K, George L, Giarrizzo T, Graham R, Guttridge TL, Hagan V, Hardenstine RS, Heck SM, Henderson AC, Heithaus P, Hertler H, Padilla MH, Hueter RE, Jabado RW, Joyeux JC, Jaiteh V, Johnson M, Jupiter SD, Kaimuddin M, Kasana D, Kelley M, Kessel ST, Kiilu B, Kirata T, Kuguru B, Kyne F, Langlois T, Lara F,
A global survey of coral reefs reveals that overfishing is driving resident shark species toward extinction, causing diversity deficits in reef elasmobranch (shark and ray) assemblages. Our species-level analysis revealed global declines of 60 to 73% for five common resident reef shark species and that individual shark species were not detected at 34 to 47% of surveyed reefs. As reefs become more shark-depleted, rays begin to dominate assemblages. Shark-dominated assemblages persist in wealthy nations with strong governance and in highly protected areas, whereas poverty, weak governance, and a lack of shark management are associated with depauperate assemblages mainly composed of rays. Without action to address these diversity deficits, loss of ecological function and ecosystem services will increasingly affect human communities.
