Journal of the
Ocean Science Foundation

An open-access free online peer-reviewed Marine Biology Journal, since 2008.

published by the Ocean Science Foundation

 
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click on covers for COVER PAGE images
 

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Observations of deep-sea sharks and associated species at a large food fall on the continental margin off South Carolina, USA (NW Atlantic)

Peter J. Auster, Kasey Cantwell, R. Dean Grubbs & Shannon Hoy

Abstract

Observations of deep-sea dogfishes (family Squalidae) were made opportunistically via a remotely operated vehicle at a large food fall, a recently dead Atlantic Swordfish, Xiphius gladius, on a topographic rise at 453 m depth off South Carolina, USA (NW Atlantic). Genie's Dogfish, Squalus clarkae (formerly S. mitsukurii), and Roughskin Dogfish, Cirrhigaleus asper, were the principal scavengers. Additional scavengers included crabs (Callinectidae) and a cutthroat eel (Synaphobranchus sp.). At least two Wreckfish, Polyprion americanus, were attracted to the carcass, and one was observed to prey directly upon a small dogfish. The aggregation of highly vagile scavengers to food falls, sources of organic carbon transfer to the deep sea, is generally assumed to be based on odor plumes, but acoustic cues from large and active scavengers can also account for rapid attraction of other scavengers and predators.

     

CITATION:

Auster, P.J., Cantwell, K., Grubbs, R.D. & Hoy, S. (2020) Observations of deep-sea sharks and associated species at a large food fall on the continental margin off South Carolina, USA (NW Atlantic) Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 35, 48-53.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3932138

publication date: 6 July 2020