Feeding grounds of juvenile scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) in the south-eastern Gulf of California

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether juvenile scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) use the south-eastern Gulf of California as a nursery and feeding area. This information could help lay the groundwork required for the conservation of this endangered species. To address this, we carried out stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) and stomach content analyses of sharks caught between 2000 and 2004 in Mazatlan, Mexico. Stomach contents and δ13C values indicated that S. lewini is a predator that feeds on benthic prey near the coast. Differences in δ15N average values between sizes classes ( 100 cm) suggest that there was an ontogenetic change in this shark’s feeding habits and also in their living environment (from benthic areas to pelagic areas). The trophic position indicated that S. lewini is a tertiary consumer, but with a high degree of trophic plasticity, and thus, different trophic roles, highlighting the importance of this predator as a regulator of prey populations. Finally, the linear isotopic relationship between S. lewini and its prey indicates a long residency within the Mazatlan area. Our results demonstrate that the south-eastern Gulf of California is a nursery area that offers abundant food for juvenile scalloped hammerhead sharks.