TY - JOUR
T1 - Evolved for extinction
T2 - The cost and conservation implications of specialization in hammerhead sharks
AU - Gallagher, Austin J.
AU - Hammerschlag, Neil
AU - Shiffman, David S.
AU - Giery, Sean T.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/7
Y1 - 2014/7
N2 - The interactions between the evolutionary history of species and contemporary changes in their environment can result in both positive and negative outcomes for fitness and survival. Sharks are one the oldest groups of all extant vertebrates but, today, are among the most threatened globally, primarily because of destructive fishing practices. Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrnidae) exhibit extremely specialized traits and complex behaviors that have increased their vulnerability to human exploitation, which impedes conservation efforts. By bringing together published data on aspects of hammerhead shark phylogeny, morphology, biology, physiology, and ecology, we argue that the same novel adaptations that have historically contributed to evolutionary success have become maladaptive under current levels and modes of exploitation. Therefore, we suggest that future management be made in light of - rather than in spite of - the unique evolutionary and ecological traits possessed by hammerhead sharks, because similar patterns are threatening other taxa with high extinction risk.
AB - The interactions between the evolutionary history of species and contemporary changes in their environment can result in both positive and negative outcomes for fitness and survival. Sharks are one the oldest groups of all extant vertebrates but, today, are among the most threatened globally, primarily because of destructive fishing practices. Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrnidae) exhibit extremely specialized traits and complex behaviors that have increased their vulnerability to human exploitation, which impedes conservation efforts. By bringing together published data on aspects of hammerhead shark phylogeny, morphology, biology, physiology, and ecology, we argue that the same novel adaptations that have historically contributed to evolutionary success have become maladaptive under current levels and modes of exploitation. Therefore, we suggest that future management be made in light of - rather than in spite of - the unique evolutionary and ecological traits possessed by hammerhead sharks, because similar patterns are threatening other taxa with high extinction risk.
KW - anthropogenic disturbance
KW - apex predator
KW - evolution
KW - specialization
KW - vulnerability
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U2 - 10.1093/biosci/biu071
DO - 10.1093/biosci/biu071
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84904181900
VL - 64
SP - 619
EP - 624
JO - BioScience
JF - BioScience
SN - 0006-3568
IS - 7
ER -