Long term monitoring of coral and fish assemblages (1983-2014) in Tiahura reefs, Moorea, French Polynesia ; Suivi à long terme des assemblages de coraux et de poissons (1983-2014) sur le récif de Tiahura, Moorea, Polynésie française Auteur(s) : Galzin, René Lecchini, David Loma, Thierry Lison de Moritz, Charlotte Parravicini, Valeriano Siu, Gilles Auteurs secondaires : Centre de recherches insulaires et observatoire de l'environnement (CRIOBE) ; Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD) - École pratique des hautes études (EPHE) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL (LabEX CORAIL) ; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) - Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) - École pratique des hautes études (EPHE) - Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER) - Université de la Réunion (UR) - Université de la Polynésie Française (UPF) - Université de Nouvelle Calédonie - Institut d'écologie et environnement Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Paris : Muséum national d'histoire naturelle Résumé : International audience Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth and sustain millions of people worldwide.However, coral reefs are temporally dynamic and fragile systems subject to ever increasing disturbancesof anthoropogenic and natural origins. Understanding the patterns and trajectories of changes through time isurgently needed to estimate the resilience of coral reefs. To ascertain these patterns, we depend on the availabilityof long-term datasets, which are seldom available. In this study, we present the data set which allowed us to analysethe long-term trends of coral and fish assemblages for the island of Moorea (French Polynesia) from 1983to 2014, a dataset spanning 32 years, comprising two Acanthaster planci outbreaks (1987 and 2006) and severalhurricanes (1982, 1983, 1991 and 2010), on three permanent monitoring sites (quadrats of 50 × 2 m2) located onboth fringing and barrier reefs as well as on the outer slope. Coral cover oscillated significantly over time, particularlyon the outer slope where it suffered greatly from the effects of A. planci outbreaks and hurricanes. Totalfish and commercial fish abundances varied significantly across the three habitats. Prior to 2000, both total fishand herbivorous fish abundances increased on the barrier reef while after this time, numbers began to drop significantlyalong the outer slope. Species richness for total, commercialized and herbivorous fish increased over thesampling period for all three habitats. There were varied responses amongst species to disturbances on the outerslope over the sampling period: while some tended to disappear for a while before reappearing, others showed apeak in abundance in the middle of the sampling period, and still others increased or decreased continuously orwere stable over time. Our results support the view that coral reefs are highly dynamic systems and that differentfunctional groups show different temporal trajectories. While disturbance is probably the major driver for coralcover dynamics, its impact is less obvious for fish, possibly due to their mobility and population dynamics whichmay mask the effect of disturbance. Les récifs coralliens sont des systèmes dynamiques et diversifiés régulièrement soumis à des perturbationsnaturelles et anthropiques, sources d’hétérogénéité spatiale et temporelle dans la structure et la dynamique deces communautés d’organismes que sont, entre autres, les poissons et les coraux. Récemment, il a été démontréque les activités humaines pouvaient modifier les régimes naturels de perturbations des récifs coralliens en transformantles événements ponctuels en perturbations persistantes ou en stress chronique, soit en introduisant denouveaux types de perturbations, soit en ajoutant ou altérant certaines perturbations naturelles nécessaires au bonmaintien de la dynamique inhérente aux récifs. Dans cette étude, nous présentons la base de données qui nouspermettra d’analyser les tendances à long-terme des assemblages de poissons et de coraux de l’île de Moorea(Polynésie française) entre 1983 et 2014 sur une période de 32 ans, comprenant deux proliférations d’Acanthasterplanci (1987 et 2006) et plusieurs cyclones (1982, 1983, 1991 et 2010), sur trois sites de suivi permanents(quadrats de 50 × 2 m2) sur les récifs barrière et frangeant ainsi que sur la pente externe. La couverture corallienneprésente de fortes oscillations, en particulier sur la pente externe où elle a répondu fortement à la proliférationd’A. planci et des cyclones. Les abondances des poissons totaux et des poissons commercialisés montrent destendances contrastées sur les trois habitats, avec, plus particulièrement, une augmentation sur le récif barrière etune diminution sur la pente externe après 2000. Ces tendances se retrouvent chez les poissons herbivores dansces deux habitats. La richesse spécifique des poissons totaux, commerciaux et herbivores, augmente de façoncontinue au cours de la période d’étude dans les trois habitats. Des groupes particuliers d’espèces répondentdifféremment aux perturbations de la pente externe au cours du suivi : alors que certaines espèces ont tendanceà disparaître pendant quelques années avant de réapparaître, d’autres présentent un pic en terme d’abondanceen milieu de suivi ; d’autres espèces ont des abondances qui augmentent ou diminuent de façon continue, etd’autres encore montrent des abondances stables. Ceci indique que les récifs coralliens sont des systèmes trèsdynamiques dans lesquels les perturbations naturelles peuvent affecter les espèces de façon différente. Alors quele régime de perturbations naturelles semble être important pour la dynamique de la couverture corallienne danscertains habitats, cela se retrouve beaucoup moins pour les poissons. Cette atténuation des fluctuations spatialeset temporelles peut être due aux aptitudes de dispersion de nombreuses espèces de poissons, capables de chercherun autre habitat favorable en cas de perturbation de l’habitat corallien d’origine. ISSN: 0399-0974 hal-01282378 https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01282378 | Partager |
Fishery externalities and biodiversity: Trade-offs between the viability of shrimp trawling and the conservation of Frigatebirds in French Guiana Auteur(s) : Martinet, Vincent Blanchard, Fabian Éditeur(s) : Elsevier Science Bv Résumé : Sustainable management of natural resources, and in particular fisheries, must take into account several conflicting objectives. This is the case in the French Guiana shrimp fishery for which profitability objectives imply a reduction in the fishing activity. On the one hand, this fishery has negative externalities on marine biodiversity due to discards. On the other hand, this fishery has positive externalities on the economy of the local community and interestingly enough on a protected seabird species in the area (the Frigatebird that feeds on discards). In this paper, we examine the viability of that system considering two sustainability objectives: an economic objective in terms of the profitability of the fishing activity, and a conservation objective in terms of the Frigatebird population. For that purpose, we have developed a dynamic model of that bioeconomic system and study here the trade-offs between the two conflicting objectives. It provides a means to quantify the necessary give and takes involving the economic and ecological objectives that would ensure a viable management solution. Our study confirms the relevance of the viability approach to address natural resource management issues, which should lead to the development of new tools for the arbitration of conflicting sustainability, objectives. In particular, such tools could be used as a quantitative basis for cost-benefit analysis taking into account environmental externalities. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Ecological Economics (0921-8009) (Elsevier Science Bv), 2009-10 , Vol. 68 , N. 12 , P. 2960-2968 Droits : 2009 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved. http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00020/13135/10195.pdf DOI:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.06.012 http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00020/13135/ | Partager Voir aussi Bio-economic modeling Viability Sustainability Fishery externalities Species conservation Télécharger |
Implementation of an ongoing FAD programme in Curacao (Netherlands Antilles) during the period 1993-2000 Auteur(s) : Van Buurt, G Éditeur(s) : Pêche thonière et dispositifs de concentration de poissons, Caribbean-Martinique, 15-19 Oct 1999 15-19 octobre 1999 Résumé : In Curacao, deep-water fads with grp surface buoys were developed and tested. The first fad was deployed in 1993. Up to now, a total of 5 fads were deployed at the following depths: 730, 685, 700, 754 and 574 metres. Changes were made to the surface buoy, resulting in an improved design, the mkii surface buoy. One fad lasted three years and one month. The main features of the design used are: the use of a sparbuoy design with constant tension on the moving chain to avoid slamming and jerking of the surface buoy; liberal use of sacrificial anodes, and maintenance to replace these anodes about once a year; the use of a short anchor chain with depth buoys, that does not touch bottom; a one-piece inverted mushroom anchor. With the grp surface buoy, a reserve buoyancy of approximately 800 kg is obtained with chain as external ballast about 610 kg of net buoyancy remains (it would seem that the reserve buoyancy needed where strong currents occur, has been underestimated in many designs). Five new grp mkii buoys are now under construction. Utilizing the experience gained with the deep-water fads, two new types of fads made of 500 mm diameter pvc tubes were designed to be used in waters of shallow and medium depth (150-400 m). One design uses a 3-m length of pvc tube, the other a 5-m tube (500 mm diameter). One fad with 3-m pvc buoy has been tested succesfully, two 5-m pvc buoys are under construction. The use of pvc results in a buoy which is substantially less expensive than a grp buoy. On the other hand, this type of buoy can probably not withstand the same forces as a grp buoy and we assume that for use in deeper waters the grp mkii buoy will still be needed. Droits : Ifremer http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00042/15288/12674.pdf http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00042/15288/ | Partager |
Le suivi de l'état des récifs coralliens de Polynésie Française et leur récente évolution Auteur(s) : Salvat, B Aubanel, A Adjeroud, M Bouisset, P Calmet, D Chancerelle, Y Cochennec, Nathalie Davies, N Éditeur(s) : Société Nationale de Protection de la Nature Résumé : Monitoring of French Polynesia coral reefs and their recent development.-French Polynesia, consisting of 118 islands in the centre of the Pacific Ocean, has more than 15 000 km(2) of reefs and lagoons managed by the local government. Tourism and pearl culture are the two main economic resources of the country. Polynesian coral reefs are extremely diverse and are among those for which we have thorough knowledge. The exploitation of local resources has been recorded for multiple decades and includes : coral materials, fishing, harvest and export of mother-of-pearl molluscs, pearl production, and ornamental fish. All over the country, many monitoring programmes have been launched to measure the health of reefs and the natural and anthropogenic perturbations that they suffer : hurricanes and seismic events, water quality, health of benthic and fish communities, pearl oyster pathology and radiobiology. These data, collected over the last few decades, allowed to define the relative importance of natural and anthropogenic degradation on reefs and lagoons, and to explain the present status of reefs at different spatial scales. Devastating hurricanes are rare (1903-1906, 1982-1983 and occasionally at other times), but they may annihilate outer slope coral communities on some islands. Bleaching events with considerable coral mortality at different geographical scales occurred mainly in 1991, 1994 and 2003. Outbreaks of Acanthaster destroyed numerous reefs (lagoons and outer slopes) from 1978-1982 and a new demographic wave began in 2006 at many Society islands. Eutrophication events only occurred occasionally and only in some lagoons. Whereas natural catastrophic events degrade the coral reef ecosystem across many islands, at the archipelago or even regional scale, anthropogenic degradation is limited to a few Society Islands, occurring rarely on atolls and not at all on those (one third) which are uninhabited. The main causes of reef degradation in some areas of Tahiti and Moorea include the embankment of fringing zones, coral mining, overfishing, absence of urban sewage treatment and the development of leisure and tourism activities. Because of its large geographical extent, one may conclude that major reef degradation in French Polynesia is caused by catastrophic natural events. On the other hand, anthropogenic degradation is more localized. Unfortunately, the synergistic effects of these causes of degradation prevent reefs from recovering. Optimum coral cover on French Polynesian outer reef slopes is between 50-60%. After a major destructive impact (hurricane, bleaching, Acanthaster) a reef is reduced to less than 10% coral cover, however if no more major disturbance events occur a reef will recover in about 12 years. Most of the 15 000 km(2) of reefs and lagoons in French Polynesia are in good health, and along with their neighbouring reefs in East and Central Pacific they are considered as the least degraded reefs worldwide and at a low risk of becoming degraded in the few next decades. However, we are more and more anxious about the future of reefs in the world particularly because present simulations predict that major impacts of climate change would include : elevation of sea surface temperatures, increase in the strength of hurricanes and acidification of seawater which will affect the formation of coral structures. La Polynésie française, 118 îles au coeur du Pacifique, possède une surface de plus de 15 000 km2 de récifs et lagons gérés par le gouvernement polynésien. Le tourisme et la perliculture représentent les deux ressources économiques majeures du Pays. Les formations récifales très diversifiées sont parmi les mieux connues. Plusieurs suivis d'exploitation des ressources sont opérationnels depuis des décennies : granulats coralliens, pêche pour l'alimentation, collecte et exportation de mollusques nacriers, production de perles, poissons d'ornement. À l'échelle du Pays de très nombreux programmes de surveillance de l'état des récifs et des perturbations qu'ils subissent, naturelles et anthropiques, ont été mis en place : perturbations cycloniques et sismiques, qualité des eaux, état de santé des peuplements benthiques et ichtyologiques, pathologie des nacres, radiobiologie. Toutes ces données recueillies au fi l des décennies ont permis d'établir l'importance relative des dégradations naturelles et anthropiques sur les récifs et lagons polynésiens et d'expliquer leur état de santé actuel en considérant différentes échelles spatiales. Les périodes cycloniques dévastatrices pour les récifs sont rares (1903-1906, 1982-1983 et épisodiquement) mais les cyclones ont parfois anéanti les communautés coralliennes de pentes externes dans certaines îles. Les blanchissements suivis de mortalités importantes à des échelles spatiales diverses, ont été surtout ceux de 1991, 1994 et 2003. Les explosions démographiques d'Acanthaster ont détruit de nombreux récifs (lagons et pentes externes) en 1978-1982 et une nouvelle pullulation s'amplifie depuis 2006 dans plusieurs îles de la Société. Les crises dystrophiques n'ont perturbé qu'épisodiquement certains lagons. [...] Revue d'Ecologie de la Terre et de la Vie (0249-7395) (Société Nationale de Protection de la Nature), 2008 , Vol. 63 , N. 1-2 , P. 145-177 Droits : 2008 Société Nationale de Protection de la Nature http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2008/publication-4558.pdf http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/4558/ | Partager |
Innovative behaviour in fish: Atlantic cod can learn to use an external tag to manipulate a self-feeder Auteur(s) : Millot, Sandie Nilsson, Jonatan Fosseidengen, Jan Erik Begout, Marie-laure Ferno, Anders Braithwaite, Victoria A. Kristiansen, Tore S. Éditeur(s) : Springer Heidelberg Résumé : This study describes how three individual fish, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.), developed a novel behaviour and learnt to use a dorsally attached external tag to activate a self-feeder. This behaviour was repeated up to several hundred times, and over time these fish fine-tuned the behaviour and made a series of goal-directed coordinated movements needed to attach the feeder’s pull string to the tag and stretch the string until the feeder was activated. These observations demonstrate a capacity in cod to develop a novel behaviour utilizing an attached tag as a tool to achieve a goal. This may be seen as one of the very few observed examples of innovation and tool use in fish. Animal Cognition (1435-9448) (Springer Heidelberg), 2014-05 , Vol. 17 , N. 3 , P. 779-785 Droits : Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013 http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00171/28217/26513.pdf DOI:10.1007/s10071-013-0710-3 http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00171/28217/ | Partager |
Reflex cardioventilatory responses to hypoxia in the flathead gray mullet (Mugil cephalus) and their behavioral modulation by perceived threat of predation and water turbidity Auteur(s) : Shingles, A Mckenzie, David Claireaux, Guy Domenici, P Éditeur(s) : University of Chicago Press Résumé : In hypoxia, gray mullet surface to ventilate well-oxygenated water in contact with air, an adaptive response known as aquatic surface respiration (ASR). Reflex control of ASR and its behavioral modulation by perceived threat of aerial predation and turbid water were studied on mullet in a partly sheltered aquarium with free surface access. Injections of sodium cyanide (NaCN) into either the bloodstream ( internal) or ventilatory water stream ( external) revealed that ASR, hypoxic bradycardia, and branchial hyperventilation were stimulated by chemoreceptors sensitive to both systemic and water O-2 levels. Sight of a model avian predator elicited bradycardia and hypoventilation, a fear response that inhibited reflex hyperventilation following external NaCN. The time lag to initiation of ASR following NaCN increased, but response intensity ( number of events, time at the surface) was unchanged. Mullet, however, modified their behavior to surface under shelter or near the aquarium edges. Turbid water abolished the fear response and effects of the predator on gill ventilation and timing of ASR following external NaCN, presumably because of reduced visibility. However, in turbidity, mullet consistently performed ASR under shelter or near the aquarium edges. These adaptive modulations of ASR behavior would allow mullet to retain advantages of the chemoreflex when threatened by avian predators or when unable to perceive potential threats in turbidity. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology (1522-2152) (University of Chicago Press), 2005-09 , Vol. 78 , N. 5 , P. 744-755 Droits : 2005, The University of Chicago http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2005/publication-637.pdf DOI:10.1086/432143 http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/637/ | Partager |
Le déficit commercial des produits de la mer quels enjeux ? Auteur(s) : Weber, Jacques Éditeur(s) : Ifremer Résumé : The external trade deficit of seafood is a subject of general concern, for the administration as it is for the profession and for research. From IFREMER's inception, its president, Mr SILLARD, made this problem one of the major guiding factors of the Institute by asking, as early as 1984, research teams to provide him with a complete and detailed view of the evaluation of seafood in France. The objective assigned to this task was twofold: assess France's room for manoeuvre and establish a research policy that must contribute to the improvement of this room for manoeuvre. The external trade deficit of sea products is a significant, long-term, structural problem to which it is conceivable to apply partial solutions. It is a national and therefore governmental problem: but it does not make it possible to judge the economic health of the fishing and marine farming sector. Its very importance tends to mask that of the challenges that management of the fishing and marine farming sector represents, a bit like a large tree hiding a forest, which we would like to try to show in this short article that does not, far from it, pretend to exhaust the subject. (OCR non controlé) Le déficit du commerce extérieur des produits de la mer est un sujet de préoccupation général, pour l'administration comme pour la profession et la recherche. Dès la création d'IFREMER, son Président, M. SILLARD faisait de ce problème l'un des paramètres majeurs d'orientation de l'Institut, en demandant dès 1984 aux équipes de chercheurs de lui fournir une vue complète et détaillée de la valorisation des produits de la mer en France. L'objectif assigné à ce travail était double : évaluer la marge de manoeuvre de la France et asseoir une politique de recherche devant contribuer à améliorer cette marge de manceuvre. Le déficit du commerce extérieur des produits de la mer est un problème important, durable, structurel, auquel il est envisageable d'apporter des solutions partielles. Il est un problème national, donc gouvernemental : mais il ne permet pas de juger de la santé économique du secteur des pêches et cultures marines. Son importance même tend à masquer celle des enjeux que représente la gestion du secteur des pêches et cultures marines, un peu comme un grand arbre cachant une forêt, ce que nous voudrions tenter de montrer dans ce bref article qui ne prétend pas, loin de là, épuiser le sujet. Equinoxe (Ifremer), 1986 , P. 7-13 Droits : 1986 Ifremer http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/1986/publication-2469.pdf http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/2469/ | Partager |
Age and growth of blackfin tuna (Thunnus atianticus) caught under moored fish aggregating devices, around Martinique Island Auteur(s) : Doray, Mathieu Stequert, Bernard Taquet, Marc Éditeur(s) : EDP Sciences Résumé : Daily growth increments measured in the otolith of Thunnus atlanticus were used to estimate the age and growth of individuals. which were sampled from an artisanal fishery operating around fish aggregating devices (FADs) moored off Martinique Island. In this study, 76 otoliths were analysed for fish ranging from 20 to 68 cm fork lengths (FL). The fish were caught using trolling lines at depths ranging from 0 to 10 m. Counts were made, under a light microscope, on the external part of the transverse section of the sagittae, from the primordium to the ventral edge. The mean coefficient of variation of the age reading was 2.4%. To validate readings, the number of increments for 11 individuals was counted using both optic and scanning electron microscopes. The calculated relationship between readings of both methods was found to be linear, with a slope of 1.03 and R-2 = 0.99. Frequency of growth increment formation could not be validated. Growth rates derived from otolith readings were, however, compared to those obtained using a modal progression analysis, which was performed on the length-frequency distributions of the landings over a period of two months. The corroboration between the growth rates was good. One increment was assumed to represent one day. The parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth curve for both sexes were L-infinity = 71.4 cm FL, k = 0.002 day(-1) and tau(0) = -80 days. According to our results, there is no evidence that Martinican moored FADs act as ecological traps for blackfin tuna. Instead, young blackfin tuna probably leave the vicinity of Martinican moored FADs to undergo a trophic migration at 7 to 8 month-old, and then come back about 8 months later to breed in the Lesser Antilles area. Les microstructures présentes dans les otolithes de Thunnus atlanticus ont été utilisées pour estimer l'âge et la croissance des thons capturés par la pêcherie artisanale exploitant les dispositifs de concentrations de poissons (DCP) mouillés autour de la Martinique. Des thons de 20 à 68 cm de longueur à la fourche (LF) ont été capturés à la ligne de traîne de surface entre 0 et 10 m de profondeur. Les stries d'accroissement ont été comptées sur 76 otolithes en microscopie optique sur la partie externe des coupes transversales de la sagitta, du nucléus jusqu'à l'extrémité verticale de la coupe (coefficient de variations 2,4 %). Afin de vérifier qu'il n'y avait pas de sous-estimation du nombre de stries, nous avons effectué un comptage, en microscopie électronique à balayage, pour 11 individus. La relation établie entre ces deux méthodes de comptage est linéaire avec un pente égale à 1,03 et R2 = 0,99. La vitesse de croissance issue de l'analyse des otolithes a été comparée à celle estimée à partir de l'analyse en progression modale des distributions en fréquence de taille des débarquements sur une période de 2 mois. La corroboration entre les deux méthodes était bonne. Nous avons supposé que la formation des stries de croissance suivait un rythme journalier. Les paramètres de l'équation de croissance de von Bertalanffy pour les 2 sexes confondus sont: L-infinity = 71.4 cm FL, k = 0.002 day(-1) and tau(0) = -80 days. Les résultats de cette étude n'indiquent pas que les DCP ancrés martiniquais puissent agir comme des pièges écologiques pour les thons noirs. Les jeunes thons noirs semblent au contraire quitter la proximité des DCP et entreprendre une migration trophique lorsqu'ils atteignent 7 à 8 mois. Ils ne reviendraient ensuite dans la zone des Petites Antilles qu'environ 8 mois plus tard, manifestement pour se reproduire. Aquatic Living Resources (0990-7440) (EDP Sciences), 2004 , Vol. 17 , N. 1 , P. 13-18 Droits : EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD 2004 http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2004/publication-396.pdf DOI:10.1051/alr:2004009 http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/396/ | Partager |
Blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) show high capacity for wound healing and recovery following injury Auteur(s) : Chin, Andrew Mourier, Johann Rummer, Jodie L Auteurs secondaires : Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture ; James Cook University (JCU) Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL (LabEX CORAIL) ; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) - Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (UAG) - École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) - École pratique des hautes études (EPHE) - Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER) - Université de la Réunion (UR) - Université de la Polynésie Française (UPF) - Université de Nouvelle Calédonie - Institut d'écologie et environnement Centre de recherches insulaires et observatoire de l'environnement (CRIOBE) ; Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD) - École pratique des hautes études (EPHE) - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoralCoE) ; James Cook University (JCU) Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Résumé : International audience Wound healing is important for sharks from the earliest life stages, for example, as the 'umbilical scar' in viviparous species heals, and throughout adulthood, when sharks can incur a range of external injuries from natural and anthropogenic sources. Despite anecdotal accounts of rapid healing in elasmobranchs, data regarding recovery and survival of individuals from different wound or injury types has not been systematically collected. The present study documented: (i) 'umbilical scar' healing in wild-caught, neonatal blacktip reef sharks while being reared for 30 days in flow-through laboratory aquaria in French Polynesia; (ii) survival and recovery of free-swimming blacktip reef sharks in Australia and French Polynesia following a range of injuries; and (iii) long-term survival following suspected shark-finning activities. Laboratory monitoring, tag-recapture records, telemetry data and photo-identification records suggest that blacktip reef sharks have a high capacity to survive and recover from small or even large and severe wounds. Healing rates, recovery and survival are important factors to consider when assessing impacts of habitat degradation and fishing stress on shark populations. The present study suggests that individual survival may depend more on handling practices and physiological stress rather than the extent of physical injury. These observations also contribute to discussions regarding the ethics of tagging practices used in elasmobranch research and provide baseline healing rates that may increase the accuracy in estimating reproductive timing inferred from mating scars and birth dates for neonatal sharks based on umbilical scar healing status. Cite as: Chin A, Mourier J, Rummer JL (2015) Blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) show high capacity for wound healing and recovery following injury. Conserv Physiol 3: doi:10.1093/conphys/cov062. Conservation physiology Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ hal-01250745 https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01250745 https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01250745/document https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01250745/file/Conserv%20Physiol-2015-Chin-.pdf DOI : 10.1093/conphys/cov062 | Partager |