What happened to sharks, rays and chimeras in four countries that entered the Pacific? | Report

[ad_1]

A recent study published in the scientific journal Global Change Biology shows that nearly a quarter of elasmobranchs (cartilaginous fish, including sharks, rays and chimeras) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) are highly vulnerable to climate change.

The study, which involved 19 regional experts from 15 different institutions in Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Ecuador, used an integrated risk assessment framework to analyze how these species are affected by climate change.

Dangerous ‘Susanita Witch’s Eye’ threatens Quito’s biodiversity

Climate change is causing oceans to become warmer, more acidic and less oxygenated, posing a serious threat to all marine ecosystems.

According to research, 23% of the assessed PET cartilaginous fish species are highly vulnerable, while the remaining 76% show moderate vulnerability.

Stingrays were most affected (77%), especially those that use coastal habitats as breeding areas. The five most affected manta ray species are also listed as critically endangered or endangered on the IUCN Red List, including the common sawfish, reticulated circle ray, giant manta, Chilean manta and devil manta. The iconic great hammerhead shark is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is also considered highly vulnerable.

Species living in coastal areas, which are hotbeds for a wide variety of species, are the most vulnerable. Photo: Pelayo Salinas de León.

“Our study highlights the urgent need to develop management actions that consider the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems in the tropical eastern Pacific to mitigate the negative effects of this global phenomenon. Coastal species, especially rays, are the most affected and require specific conservation measures to ensure their survival and the resilience of the ecosystems they inhabit,” said Florencia Cerutti-Pereyra, lead author of the study and scientific collaborator in the Ecology and Conservation Program at the Charles Darwin Foundation for Shark Conservation.

Coastal species are particularly vulnerable to changes in ocean warming, acidification and possible deoxygenation, as well as changes in freshwater inputs, salinity and sea level rise. These climate factors exacerbate other existing threats such as overfishing and habitat degradation.

Cuban lizard expands into northern Ecuador, considered a ‘huge threat’ to nature

The study highlights the urgent need to implement strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change on this group of threatened species.He also stressed the importance of better understanding the impacts of climate change on PET critical habitats and processes, and filling knowledge gaps on cartilaginous fish species in the region.

“Climate change is increasingly evident, with major impacts for all species and ecosystems in the ocean. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting sustainable fishing practices and implementing conservation plans for threatened species are essential if we want sharks, rays and chimaeras to remain an important component of maintaining a healthy ocean. Only through an integrated and coordinated approach can we protect biodiversity and maintain the function and resilience of marine ecosystems,” explained Pelayo Salinas de León, co-author of the study and co-principal investigator of the Foundation’s Shark Ecology and Conservation Program.

The study’s findings highlight the need for integrated management strategies that address climate and human impacts. Climate change, combined with overfishing and habitat degradation, increases the vulnerability of these species, making it imperative that effective conservation strategies are developed and implemented.

What happened to the Yasuni spiders?: They found one species with inverted sex organs, others with eye problems

“Collaboration with regional experts has deepened our understanding of how global climate change may affect sharks, rays, and chimaeras in the eastern tropical Pacific. Now, it’s time to apply this knowledge to management policies to ensure the long-term conservation of these species,” added study co-author Ana Moya, a researcher in the Charles Darwin Foundation’s Shark Ecology and Conservation Program.

A total of 132 species of chondrichthyans were evaluated (65 sharks, 60 bats and 7 chimeras). The risk assessment conducted used three components to assess vulnerability to climate change: exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity, and seven climate change factors. Each species was assessed based on these components and classified as low, medium or high vulnerability. (I)