Seasonal and interannual variation in the energetic condition of adult male Atlantic sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon terraenovae in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

One hundred and thirty Atlantic sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon terraenovae livers were collected from April 1999 to October 2001 from inshore waters of the Mississippi Sound to investigate seasonal and inter‐annual variation in their energetic condition. A decline in the hepato‐somatic index (IH) was observed from 1999 to 2001. In addition, IH, liver specific energy content and total energy content were lowest during the summer and highest during the spring and autumn, while liver water content was highest during the summer and lowest during the spring and autumn.