Environmental influence on the inter-annual demographic variation of the narrownose smooth-hound shark (Mustelus schmitti, Springer 1939) in the Northern Argentine Coastal System (El Rincón, 38–42°S)

Abstract

Understanding the environmental influence on the demographic structure of a shark population within a specific ecosystem has direct implications for developing effective management and conservation measures. We studied the physical environment influence on the inter-annual demographic variation of the narrownose smooth-hound shark (Mustelus schmitti) in a key coastal ecosystem. The analyses were based on the size assemblage concept of co-occurring length classes that share common traits. We used bottom-trawl datasets (n = 334) collected over 8 spring periods (1994-2012). The analyses indicated that the population was structured in eight size assemblages that represented its main ontogenetic levels. Those corresponding to sub-adult females, young adult males, and juveniles contributed to most of the population similarity. The population structure presented high (>57.7%) inter-annual dissimilarities and showed three main similarity levels with significant differences associated with a higher abundance and similarity contribution of the main assemblages. All size assemblages were more abundant in shallow (<34.5 m), warmer (>14.9 °C), and fresher (<33.24) waters. Although the temperature variations better explained the spatial distribution of abundance, the inter-annual variation in the population similarity matched the spatial coverage of low salinities (<33.5). Overall, the environmental variation explained the variability in the abundance of size assemblages in consecutive years.