Abstract
Elasmobranchs are among the most endangered animals, with records of decline worldwide. In this context, we aim to understand the patterns and trends of scientific production, with special emphasis on conservation. Was performed a scientometric analysis on the Web of Science platform, collecting data on scientific production between 1950 and 2019. We identified 8,172 valid articles on elasmobranchs with production increasing exponentially during the study period. The trend of themes changed, in the 1980s descriptive biology stood out (for example, morphological and physiological studies) and currently themes related to life history, conservation and fisheries have gained space. Even so, there were few studies explicitly related to elasmobranch conservation, especially in Asian countries (only 5.5% of the articles from this region were conservation related) where threats from overexploitation are high. For the effective conservation of sharks and rays, it is vitally important that there are more incentives in research, there also needs to be a greater focus on less studied species, reducing the amount of data deficient species and filling the critical information gaps that currently undermine conservation efforts.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albert C, Luque GM, Courchamp F (2018) The twenty most charismatic species. PLoS ONE 13:e0199149. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199149
Awruch CA, Somoza GM, Baldock C (2019) Chondrichthyan research in South America: endocrinology overview and research trends over 50 years (1967–2016) compared to the rest of the world. Gen Comp Endocrinol 273:118–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.06.005
Barnett A, Semmens JM (2012) Sequential movement into coastal habitats and high spatial overlap of predator and prey suggest high predation pressure in protected areas. Oikos 121:882–890. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0706.2011.20000.x
Barrowclift E, Temple AJ, Stead S et al (2017) Social, economic and trade characteristics of the elasmobranch fishery on Unguja Island, Zanzibar, East Africa. Mar Policy 83:128–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2017.06.002
Barton K, Barton MK (2019) Package ‘MuMIn’ R Packag version 1.43.15. https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=MuMIn
Bates D, Mächler M, Bolker B, Walker S (2015) Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models using lme4. J Stat Softw 67. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v067.i01
Beddington JR, Agnew DJ, Clark CW (2007) Current problems in the management of marine fisheries. Science (80-) 316:1713–1716
Béné C, Arthur R, Norbury H et al (2016) Contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to food security and poverty reduction: assessing the current evidence. World Dev 79:177–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.11.007
Bode A, Abrantes F, Antunes A et al (2019) MDPI oceans: a new publication channel for open access science focused on the ocean. Oceans 1:1–5. https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans1010001
Boettiger C, Chamberlain S, Lang DT (2019) Package ‘rfishbase' R Packag version 3.0.4. https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=rfishbase
Boettiger C, Lang DT, Wainwright PC (2012) Rfishbase: exploring, manipulating and visualizing FishBase data from R. J Fish Biol 81:2030–2039. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2012.03464.x
Bradshaw CJA, Giam X, Sodhi NS (2010) Evaluating the relative environmental impact of countries. PLoS ONE 5. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010440
Bundy A, Chuenpagdee R, Boldt JL et al (2017) Strong fisheries management and governance positively impact ecosystem status. Fish Fish 18:412–439. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12184
Caro T (2010) Conservation by proxy: indicator, umbrella, keystone, flagship, and other surrogate species. Island Press, Washington, D.C.
Castro JI (1987) Sharks an inquiry into biology, behavior, fisheries, and use: proceedings of a conference. Portland, Oregon USA
Christensen V, Coll M, Piroddi C et al (2014) A century of fish biomass decline in the ocean. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 512:155–166. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10946
Clarke S (2004) Understanding pressures on fishery resources through trade statistics: a pilot study of four products in the chinese dried seafood market. Fish Fish 5:53–74. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2960.2004.00137.x
Clarke S, McAllister MK, Milner-Gulland EJ et al (2006) Global estimates of shark catches using trade records from commercial markets. Ecol Lett 9:1115–1126. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2006.00968.x
Colléony A, Clayton S, Couvet D et al (2017) Human preferences for species conservation: animal charisma trumps endangered status. Biol Conserv 206:263–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.11.035
Cooke SJ, Wesch S, Donaldson LA et al (2017) A call for evidence-based conservation and management of fisheries and aquatic resources. Fisheries 42:143–149. https://doi.org/10.1080/03632415.2017.1276343
Costello C, Ovando D, Clavelle T et al (2016) Global fishery prospects under contrasting management regimes. Proc Natl Acad Sci :201520420. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1520420113
Davidson LNK, Krawchuk MA, Dulvy NK (2016) Why have global shark and ray landings declined: improved management or overfishing? Fish Fish 17:438–458. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12119
de Barros MSF, de Oliveira CDL, da S Batista V (2022) Is restricting catch to young sharks only more sustainable? Exploring a controversial management strategy for bull, tiger, blue and bonnethead sharks. Fish Manag Ecol: 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/FME.12593
Defazio D, Lockett A, Wright M (2009) Funding incentives, collaborative dynamics and scientific productivity: evidence from the EU framework program. Res Policy 38:293–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2008.11.008
Dent F, Clarke S (2015) State of the global market for shark products. FAO Fish Aquac Tech Pap No 590:187
Doi H, Takahara T (2016) Global patterns of conservation research importance in different countries of the world. PeerJ 4:e2173. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2173
Doubleday ZA, Connell SD (2017) Publishing with Objective Charisma: breaking Science’s Paradox. Trends Ecol Evol 32:803–805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2017.06.011
Ducatez S (2019) Which sharks attract research? Analyses of the distribution of research effort in sharks reveal significant non-random knowledge biases. Rev Fish Biol Fish. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-019-09556-0
Dulvy NK, Baum JK, Clarke S et al (2008) You can swim but you can’t hide: the global status and conservation of oceanic pelagic sharks and rays. Aquat Conserv Mar Freshw Ecosyst 18:459–482. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.975
Dulvy NK, Fowler SL, Musick JA et al (2014) Extinction risk and conservation of the world’s sharks and rays. Elife 3:1–34. https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.00590
FAO (2014) The state of food and agriculture (SOFA). Economic FAO, 2014. https://www.fao.org/3/i4040e/i4040e.pdf
FAO (2018) The state of world fisheries and aquaculture: meeting the sustainable development goals. Food and Agriculture Organization
FAO (2019) FishStatJ - software for fishery statistical time series. Retrieved January 06, 2020, from http://www.fao.org/fishery/statistics/software/fishstatj/en
Ferretti F, Worm B, Britten GL et al (2010) Patterns and ecosystem consequences of shark declines in the ocean. Ecol Lett 13:1055–1071. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01489.x
Field IC, Meekan MG, Buckworth RC, Bradshaw CJA (2009) Chap. 4. Susceptibility of sharks, rays and chimaeras to global extinction. Adv Mar Biol 56:275–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2881(09)56004-X
Fowler SL, Reed TM, Dipper F (2002) Elasmobranch Biodiversity, Conservation and Management: Proceedings of the International Seminar and Workshop, Sabah, Malaysia, July 1997. IUCN Publications Services Unit, Oxford
Gregr EJ, Christensen V, Nichol L et al (2020) Cascading social-ecological costs and benefits triggered by a recovering keystone predator. Sci (80-) 368:1243–1247. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aay5342
Gutiérrez NL, Hilborn R, Defeo O (2011) Leadership, social capital and incentives promote successful fisheries. Nature 470:386–389. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09689
Halpern BS, Walbridge S, Selkoe KA et al (2008) A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems. Science (80-) 319:948–952. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1149345
Hammerschlag N, Barley S, Irschick D et al (2018) Predator declines and morphological changes in prey: evidence from coral reefs depleted of sharks. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 586:127–139. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12426
Hazin FHV, Afonso AS, Castilho PC et al (2013) Regional movements of the tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, off northeastern Brazil: inferences regarding shark attack hazard. An da Acad Bras de Ciên 85:1053–1062. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0001-37652013005000055
Heupel MR, Knip DM, Simpfendorfer CA, Dulvy NK (2014) Sizing up the ecological role of sharks as predators. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 495:291–298. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10597
Hilborn R (2007) Defining success in fisheries and conflicts in objectives. Mar Policy 31:153–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2006.05.014
Hilborn R, Walters CJ (1992) Objectives of fisheries management. Quantitative fisheries stock assessment. Springer US, Boston, pp 22–43
IUCN (2017) The IUCN red list of threatened species. Version 2017-3. https://www.iucnredlist.org
Janvier P, Lund R, Grogan ED (2004) Further consideration of the earliest known lamprey, Hardistiella montanensis Janvier and Lund, 1983, from the Carboniferous of Bear Gulch, Montana, U.S.A. J Vertebr Paleontol 24(3):742–743
Jarić I, Cvijanović G, Knežević-Jarić J, Lenhardt M (2012) Trends in fisheries science from 2000 to 2009: a bibliometric study. Rev Fish Sci 20:70–79. https://doi.org/10.1080/10641262.2012.659775
Klein CJ, Chan a, Kircher L et al (2008) Striking a balance between biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic viability in the design of marine protected areas. Conserv Biol 22:691–700. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.00896.x
Kuhlman T, Farrington J (2010) What is sustainability? Sustainability 2:3436–3448. https://doi.org/10.3390/su2113436
Ladle RJ, Todd PA, Malhado ACM (2012) Assessing insularity in global science. Scientometrics 93:745–750. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-012-0703-z
Lucrezi S, Ellis S, Gennari E (2019a) A test of causative and moderator effects in human perceptions of sharks, their control and framing. Mar Policy 109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2019.103687
Lucrezi S, Esfehani MH, Ferretti E, Cerrano C (2019) The effects of stakeholder education and capacity building in marine protected areas: a case study from southern Mozambique. Mar Policy 108:103645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2019.103645
Mazzoldi C, Bearzi G, Brito C et al (2019) From sea monsters to charismatic megafauna: changes in perception and use of large marine animals. PLoS ONE 14:e0226810. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226810
McClenachan L, Cooper AB, Carpenter KE, Dulvy NK (2012) Extinction risk and bottlenecks in the conservation of charismatic marine species. Conserv Lett 5:73–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-263X.2011.00206.x
Mills LS, Doak DF (1993) The keystone-species concept in ecology and conservation. Bioscience 43:219–224. https://doi.org/10.2307/1312122
Mulligan A, Mabe M (2011) The effect of the internet on researcher motivations, behaviour and attitudes. J Doc 67:290–311. https://doi.org/10.1108/00220411111109485
Neff CL (2012) Australian beach safety and the politics of shark attacks. Coast Manag 40:88–106. https://doi.org/10.1080/08920753.2011.639867
Neff CL, Hueter R (2013) Science, policy, and the public discourse of shark “attack”: a proposal for reclassifying human-shark interactions. J Environ Stud Sci 3:65–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-013-0107-2
Neff CL, Yang JYH (2013) Shark bites and public attitudes: policy implications from the first before and after shark bite survey. Mar Policy 38:545–547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2012.06.017
O’Bryhim JR, Parsons ECM (2015) Increased knowledge about sharks increases public concern about their conservation. Mar Policy 56:43–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2015.02.007
Oliveira CDL, Oliveira CYB, Camilo JPG et al (2021) Demographic analysis reveals a population decline of the Longnose stingray hypanus guttatus in Northeastern Brazil. Reg Stud Mar Sci 41:101554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2020.101554
Oliveira CD, Santos LV, Oliveira CY (2022) Research on chimaera with a thematical focus for life history: a scientometric analysis. Rev Biol Mar Oceanogr 57:3338. https://doi.org/10.22370/RBMO.2022.57.ESPECIAL.3338
Oliveira CYB, Oliveira CDL, Müller MN et al (2020) A scientometric overview of global Dinoflagellate Research. Publications 8:50. https://doi.org/10.3390/publications8040050
Oliveira Júnior JGC, Silva LPS, Malhado ACM et al (2016) Artisanal fisheries research: a need for globalization? PLoS ONE 11:e0150689. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0150689
Paine RT (1995) A conversation on refining the concept of keystone species. Conserv Biol 9:962–964
Pimiento C, Leprieur F, Silvestro D et al (2020) Functional diversity of marine megafauna in the Anthropocene. Sci Adv 6. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aay7650
Power ME, Tilman D, Estes JA et al (1996) Challenges in the quest for keystones: identifying keystone species is difficult—but essential to understanding how loss of species will affect ecosystems. Bioscience 46:609–620
Pullin AS, Stewart GB (2006) Guidelines for systematic review in conservation and environmental management. Conserv Biol 20:1647–1656. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00485.x
Rangeley RW, Davies RWD (2012) Raising the “Sunken Billions”: Financing the transition to sustainable fisheries. Mar Policy 36:1044–1046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2012.02.020
Rizzi F, Jan N, Eck V, Frey M (2014) The production of scienti fi c knowledge on renewable energies: Worldwide trends, dynamics and challenges and implications for management. Renew Energy 62:657–671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2013.08.030
R Core Team (2017) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Development Core Team, Vienna
Roberge JM, Angelstam P (2004) Usefulness of the umbrella species concept as a conservation tool. Conserv Biol 18:76–85
Sachs JD, Warner AM (1997) Natural resource abundance and economic growth. J Chem Inf Model 53:1689–1699. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107415324.004
Sadovy de Mitcheson Y, Craig MT, Bertoncini AA et al (2013) Fishing groupers towards extinction: a global assessment of threats and extinction risks in a billion dollar fishery. Fish Fish 14:119–136. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2979.2011.00455.x
Shiffman DS, Ajemian MJ, Carrier JC et al (2020) Trends in chondrichthyan research: an analysis of three decades of conference abstracts. Copeia 108:122–131. https://doi.org/10.1643/OT-19-179R
Stevens JD, Bonfil R, Dulvy NK, Walker PA (2000) The effects of fishing on sharks, rays, and chimaeras (chondrichthyans), and the implications for marine ecosystems. ICES J Mar Sci 57:476–494. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmsc.2000.0724
Simpfendorfer CA, Dulvy NK (2017) Bright spots of sustainable shark fishing. Curr Biol 27:R97–R98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.12.017
Sumaila UR, Bellmann C, Tipping A (2016) Fishing for the future: an overview of challenges and opportunities. Mar Policy 69:173–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2016.01.003
Teixeira EC, da Silva VEL, Fabré NN, Batista VS (2020) Marine shrimp fisheries research—a mismatch on spatial and thematic needs. Scientometrics 122:591–606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-019-03276-9
Thompson TL, Mintzes JJ (2002) Cognitive structure and the affective domain: on knowing and feeling in biology. Int J Sci Educ 24:645–660. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690110110115
Wendling ZA, Emerson JW, Esty DC et al (2018) The 2018 environmental performance index report. New Haven, CT: Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy. https://epi.envirocenter.yale.edu/node/36476
Zar JH (2014) Biostatistical analysis, 5th edn. Pearson Higher Ed, Essex
Zuur AF, Ieno EN, Elphick CS (2010) A protocol for data exploration to avoid common statistical problems. Methods Ecol Evol 1:3–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.2041-210X.2009.00001.X
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for the doctoral scholarship to author CDLO (#88882.452337/2019-01) and the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for the productivity grant to VSB (#311,038/2017-4 and 316,797/2021-9).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest, financial or non-financial.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
de Oliveira, C.D.L., Ladle, R.J. & da Silva Batista, V. Patterns and trends in scientific production on marine elasmobranchs: research hotspots and emerging themes for conservation. J Coast Conserv 27, 6 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-023-00937-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-023-00937-z