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A new metric for measuring condition in large predatory sharks
Author(s) -
Irschick D. J.,
Hammerschlag N.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/jfb.12484
Subject(s) - carcharhinus , biology , leucas , zoology , elasmobranchii , fishery , habitat , ecology
A simple metric (span condition analysis; SCA ) is presented for quantifying the condition of sharks based on four measurements of body girth relative to body length. Data on 104 live sharks from four species that vary in body form, behaviour and habitat use ( Carcharhinus leucas , Carcharhinus limbatus , Ginglymostoma cirratum and Galeocerdo cuvier ) are given. Condition shows similar levels of variability among individuals within each species. Carcharhinus leucas showed a positive relationship between condition and body size, whereas the other three species showed no relationship. There was little evidence for strong differences in condition between males and females, although more male sharks are needed for some species ( e.g. G. cuvier ) to verify this finding. SCA is potentially viable for other large marine or terrestrial animals that are captured live and then released.