Characteristics and stomach contents of Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) caught in Svalbard during June 2008-2009 ...

Harbour seals in Svalbard have short longevity, despite being protected from human hunting and having limited terrestrial predation at their haulout sites, low contaminant burdens and no fishery by-catch issues. This led us to explore the diet of Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) in this re...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Leclerc, Lisa-Marie E, Lydersen, Christian, Haug, Tore, Bachmann, Lutz, Fisk, Aaron T, Kovacs, Kit Maureen
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: PANGAEA 2012
Subjects:
Biological sample
International Polar Year 2007-2008 IPY
bearded seal
Cystophora cristata
Erignathus barbatus
Greenland
hooded seal
International Polar Year
IPY
Pusa hispida
ringed seal
Somniosus microcephalus
Svalbard
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.815268
https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.815268
Description
Summary:Harbour seals in Svalbard have short longevity, despite being protected from human hunting and having limited terrestrial predation at their haulout sites, low contaminant burdens and no fishery by-catch issues. This led us to explore the diet of Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) in this region as a potential seal predator. We examined gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) from 45 Greenland sharks in this study. These sharks ranged from 229 to 381 cm in fork length and 136-700 kg in body mass; all were sexually immature. Seal and whale tissues were found in 36.4 and 18.2%, respectively, of the GITs that had contents (n = 33). Based on genetic analyses, the dominant seal prey species was the ringed seal (Pusa hispida); bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) and hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) tissues were each found in a single shark. The sharks had eaten ringed seal pups and adults based on the presence of lanugo-covered prey (pups) and age determinations based on growth rings on claws (<1 year and ... : Data extracted in the frame of a joint ICSTI/PANGAEA IPY effort, see http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.150150 ...

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