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Thesis
Thermal Ecology of Juvenile New England Chain Catsharks, Scyliorhinus Retifer
University of West Florida Libraries
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
Spring 2022
Abstract
The Chain catshark Scyliorhinus retifer is a small demersal shark, inhabiting outer shelf and upper slope waters in temperate areas from southern New England to Nicaragua. Included within the shark’s range is the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf, which experiences the largest interannual sea surface temperature variability in the North Atlantic. The Chain catshark is the most abundant catshark species in the Western Atlantic and plays an important ecological role in trophic dynamics as a mesopredator. Chain catsharks experience regular temperature fluctuations within their habitat, but it is unclear how the warming climate may affect catshark distribution, ecology, and behavior. Thermal requirements of Chain catsharks are currently unknown. In general, thermal requirements for elasmobranch species are understudied with only five species described using Critical Thermal Methodology (CTM), none of which are catsharks. In this study, thermal niche requirements of juvenile Chain catshark were estimated by defining upper and lower critical and chronic temperatures. The results suggest the juvenile New England Chain catshark niche has an area of 383.8°C2 and shows a strong cold tolerance response observed in acclimated juvenile Chain catsharks. The thermal niche polygon presented here is the first for an elasmobranch belonging to the family Scyliorhinidae.
Details
- Title
- Thermal Ecology of Juvenile New England Chain Catsharks, Scyliorhinus Retifer
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Contributors
- Wayne Bennett (Advisor)Matthew Davis (Committee Member)Christopher Pomory (Committee Member)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 31
- Copyright
- Permission granted to the University of West Florida Libraries to digitize and/or display this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires the permission of the copyright holder.
- Identifiers
- 99380090596606600
- Academic Unit
- Biology; Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida