Abstract
Characterizing ontogenetic niches of species is fundamental to understanding ecosystem structure and how habitat utilization changes across life-stages. Niche partitioning over temporal and spatial domains is also key to the coexistence of interspecific and intraspecific competitors. This study utilized fisheries-independent bottom longline survey data collected from 2013 to 2020 to develop ecological niche models for neonate and juvenile sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus) inhabiting the lower Chesapeake Bay nursery area. Modeled relationships in combination with auxiliary environmental data yielded size-specific habitat suitability estimates that were used to develop projected spatiotemporal distributions and assess ontogenetic niche equivalency. Results showed appreciable differences among the two size-classes in the relationships of relative abundance with measured abiotic variables. High neonate (observed size range 45.5–70.5 cm total length, TL) relative abundance was associated with high bottom temperatures, low bottom dissolved oxygen levels, and intermediate depths and bottom salinities. In contrast, high juvenile (observed size range 71–116 cm TL) relative abundance was linked with intermediate bottom temperatures and bottom dissolved oxygen levels, deeper depths, and lower bottom salinities. Fine-scale coexistence among the two size-classes was low, and annual maps of projected habitat suitabilities showed temporally consistent spatial separation of favorable abiotic niche conditions for neonates and juveniles. Niche equivalency results revealed that overlap among the size-specific niches was low to moderate with statistically significant differences detected annually and seasonally within years. Taken together, these results yield valuable insights on neonate and juvenile sandbar shark ecology by providing a nuanced delineation of stage-specific ecological niches and evidence of niche separation within a large nursery ecosystem.
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The data analyzed for this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to acknowledge the field efforts of past and present staff, students, and vessel crew working as part of the Virginia COASTSPAN program at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), William & Mary. We thank M.A.M. Friedrichs and P. St-Laurent for generating ChesROMS output. Two anonymous reviewers provided comments that improved this manuscript. This is VIMS contribution no. 4099.
Funding
Funding for Virginia COASTSPAN was provided by a grants to RJL by NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, MD, USA (agency award # NA18NMF4720321) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Arlington, VA, USA (agency award # 20-0304).
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RJL and JG contributed to the study design. Statistical modeling was conducted by RJL with input from JG and CDP. The first draft of the manuscript was written by RJL and subsequently revised based on comments provided by JG and CDP. All authors approved the final manuscript.
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Latour, R.J., Gartland, J. & Peterson, C.D. Ontogenetic niche structure and partitioning of immature sandbar sharks within the Chesapeake Bay nursery. Mar Biol 169, 76 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-022-04066-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-022-04066-3