ESR 25:209-223 (2014)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00583

ABSTRACT: Abundance trends and distribution patterns from 1902 to 1932 for 7 elasmobranch species in the German Bight (eastern central North Sea) were analyzed and compared to survey trends for 1991 to 2009. Abundances of thornback ray Raja clavata, common skate Dipturus batis, smoothhound Mustelus spp., tope shark Galeorhinus galeus, and spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias declined and common skate was extirpated, while abundances of starry ray Amblyraja radiata and lesser spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula increased. A meta-population approach was developed to analyze connectivity in terms of the surrogate parameter Ĉ representing donor population N_j, separation distance D_i,j, and migration range parameter α. As populations declined, connectivity between sub-populations was lost before resident populations finally collapsed. The loss of connectivity was caused by both a loss of sub-populations and a subsequent increase in the distance separating the remaining sub-populations. For lesser spotted dogfish, an increase in the donor population fostered the establishment of a local sub-population after 2000. For starry rays, an apparent increase in N_j due to a concentration of the donor population near the study area increased connectivity with the local sub-population. The interpretation of local abundances in terms of meta-population dynamics demonstrates the importance of seasonally resolved survey information for conservation planning.

KEY WORDS: Meta-population models · North Sea · Fish diversity · Historic time series

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Cite this article as: Fock HO, Probst WN, Schaber M (2014) Patterns of extirpation. II. The role of connectivity in the decline and recovery of elasmobranch populations in the German Bight as inferred from survey data. Endang Species Res 25:209-223. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00583 Export citation Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn