Juvenile Nurse Sharks and Recreational Fishing Stress
Author Information
Author(s): Giesy Katherine C., Jerome Jacob, Wester Julia, D’Alessandro Evan, McDonald M. Danielle, Macdonald Catherine
Primary Institution: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
Hypothesis
How does recreational angling affect the physiological stress response of juvenile nurse sharks?
Conclusion
Juvenile nurse sharks exhibit a significant physiological stress response to recreational angling, with increased lactate levels indicating stress.
Supporting Evidence
- Lactate levels increased by 611% during the 30-minute fight.
- Significant relationships were found between lactate and fight time, blood draw number, and temperature.
- Glucose levels increased by 72% but were primarily affected by blood draw number.
- Hematocrit levels decreased on average by 0.7% over the fight time.
Takeaway
When juvenile nurse sharks are caught and released by fishermen, they can get really stressed out, which is shown by changes in their blood.
Methodology
Juvenile nurse sharks were caught using hook-and-line methods, and blood samples were taken at intervals during a 30-minute fight to measure physiological stress indicators.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from the specific fishing sites and methods used, which may not represent all recreational angling scenarios.
Limitations
The study focused only on juvenile nurse sharks and did not assess long-term effects post-release.
Participant Demographics
27 juvenile nurse sharks (15 females, 12 males) with total lengths ranging from 63 to 153 cm.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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