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Seasonal occurrence and environmental drivers of pelagic shark species in Los Cabos, Mexico, assessed using citizen science

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Abstract

The Mexican Pacific is an area of high biodiversity due to its transitional location of both tropical and sub-tropical waters and many shark species inhabit the coastal areas of Los Cabos off the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. Here, we used citizen science onboard a local shark tourism operator to determine the probability of pelagic shark presence relative to environmental factors using generalized additive models (GAMs) over a 3-year sampling period. Short-fin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) presence had significant relationships with sea surface temperature (SST), wind speed, sampling site, and year. Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) presence was significantly influenced by wind speed, year, photoperiod, moon illumination, and SST. Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) presence had significant relationships with SST, wind speed, site, and year. The use of a tourism operator allowed citizens to be involved in science and provided a platform to collect data. This monitoring program will be continued and provides a baseline dataset of pelagic shark species which can often be lacking from the local artisanal fisheries that target sharks in the area.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank shark tour guides and staff of Cabo Shark Dive for their contributions in the data collection. We also thank clients participating in shark tours for their support in logistics and data collection. We also acknowledge Fundación México Azul’s founder Guillermo Mendoza and advisory board, and the organization’s donors for their long-term support; without their monthly donations, this would have not been possible.

Funding

This work was supported by Fundación México Azul main donors: Mª Fernanda Carrera Compeán, Mark K. Gomley, Alfredo Suárez González, Dominik Joseph Bacher, Rodella Véjar Valenzuela, Productora Ganadera Coralia, and all our recurring donors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. México Azul, Avenida México 141, Colonia del Carmen, Coyoacán, C.P. 04100, CDMX, Mexico

    Clara E. Calatayud Pavía, Francisco Mascareño Suárez & Kathryn A. Ayres

  2. Cabo Shark Dive, Boulevard Paseo de La Marina, Centro, 23450, Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico

    Jacopo Brunetti & Miguel Eliceche

Authors
  1. Clara E. Calatayud Pavía
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  2. Francisco Mascareño Suárez
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  3. Jacopo Brunetti
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  4. Miguel Eliceche
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  5. Kathryn A. Ayres
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Contributions

Clara E. Calatayud Pavía conceived and designed the study, provided the survey protocol, trained the crew for data collection, collected data, provided funding and resources from Fundación México Azul, and prepared the manuscript. Francisco Mascareño Suárez helped with the survey protocol, collected data, standardized the database, and gave advice for the manuscript. Jacopo Brunetti and Miguel Eliceche provided resources from Cabo Shark Dive, provided shark attraction methodology, collected data, and gave support with local knowledge. Kathryn A. Ayres performed the GAM analysis, provided papers for the discussion, gave support and critical advice, and reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Clara E. Calatayud Pavía.

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Pavía, C.E.C., Mascareño Suárez, F., Brunetti, J. et al. Seasonal occurrence and environmental drivers of pelagic shark species in Los Cabos, Mexico, assessed using citizen science. Environ Biol Fish 106, 1551–1567 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-023-01434-w

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