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

• 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

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 ...