| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Rangel, Bianca S.
;
Correa, Mariano
;
Agostinho, Lorena Soares
;
Borges, Fabio
;
Galvao, Bruno
;
Heithaus, Michael
Total Authors: 6
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES; v. 108, n. 10, p. 7-pg., 2025-09-04. |
| Abstract | |
This study provides the first evidence of lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) preying on the invasive jaguar guapote (Parachromis managuensis) in a marine environment. Feeding events occurred after heavy rainfall, connecting the mangrove to Sueste Bay (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago), likely facilitating fish movement. Both adult and young-of-the-year sharks targeted the invasive fish, demonstrating opportunistic behavior. These findings raise ecological questions about the role of native predators in reducing invasive species. Further research should quantify the frequency of guapote predation in shark diets as well as the population-level effects on this invasive species to evaluate its ecological significance. Given the lemon shark's threatened status and the rapid proliferation of invasive species in oceanic islands, documenting these interactions is essential to inform urgent conservation and management strategies in vulnerable marine reserves. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 23/10020-0 - Integrating physiological biomarkers to understand the future of sharks in an oceanic refuge with increasing tourism pressure |
| Grantee: | Bianca de Sousa Rangel |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral |