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Variation of body condition and plasma energy substrates with life stage, sex, and season in wild‐sampled nurse sharks Ginglymostoma cirratum
Author(s) -
Moorhead Shan G.,
Gallagher Austin J.,
Merly Liza,
Hammerschlag Neil
Publication year - 2021
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.14612
Subject(s) - biology , ketone bodies , context (archaeology) , seasonal breeder , zoology , metabolism , endocrinology , paleontology
Reported here are the relationships among morphological ( i.e ., body condition) and biochemical ( i.e ., plasma concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, free fatty acids, and ketone bodies and ketone body ratios) parameters related to energy storage and use, as well as the variation of such parameters, for 107 free‐ranging nurse sharks Ginglymostoma cirratum sampled off South Florida. Immature G. cirratum exhibited a higher variance in body condition, plasma free fatty acid concentrations and ketone body ratios compared to adults. Mature female G. cirratum had significantly higher body condition than mature males, driven by a seasonal increase in mature female body condition during the wet season. Mature male G. cirratum showed a decrease in the ketone body β‐hydroxybutyric acid during the dry season. Taken together, this study provides a baseline assessment of body condition and internal physiological state for a data‐poor marine species and demonstrates significant ontogenetic, sexual and seasonal variation in G. cirratum energetic state. As concluded by other studies of energy metabolism in free‐ranging sharks, this research highlights the importance of considering intraspecific patterns and sampling context for inferring the drivers of variation.