Elasmobranch Abstracts

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​Advances in SAFE Sharks and Rays

Beth Firchau and Hap Fatzinger,
Association of Zoos and Aquariums and North Carolina Aquariums
Full Abstract
SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) initiative that focuses the collective expertise within AZA‐accredited zoos and aquariums and leverages their massive audiences to save species. Established in 2015, the projects of the SAFE: Shark and Ray Program’s Conservation Action Plan (CAP) fall within four specific thematic areas including public action, policy and legislation, research, and Species Survival Plans®. Each project, designed to incorporate collaborator expertise to maximize efficiency and effectiveness, is comprised of detailed goals, actions, timelines, budgets. Project coordinators leading the efforts within the Shark and Ray Program will provide updates on progress towards CAP goals including new and innovative products created to enhance collective approaches to communicating shark and ray messages, efforts in conservation and advances in animal care. Avenues for participation and collaboration within existing efforts and future efforts with the new Conservation Action Plan development in 2019 will be shared.

AZA SHARK SAFE,
Animal Care Manuals 

Kelli Cadenas,
Sea Life Michigan
Full Abstract
Pulling together leadership from the Marine Fish Taxon Advisory Group, The AZA Shark and Ray Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE) project has created a template for elasmobranch care manuals that will be used to make species specific care manuals for species with SAFE SSPs (Species Survival Programs.) Next steps for the project include working with SSP teams and making calls for participation. This presentation will go over how people can help with this project and why it's important. By creating well written and easy to use species specific manuals, we can increase the level of care for our elasmobranchs and better identify what husbandry research is needed in the future.

#ChondroCensus 2019: A Roll Call for Chondrichthyans

Jennie Janssen,
National Aquarium
Full Abstract
The International Census of Chondrichthyans in Human Care (ICCHC), part of the AZA SAFE: Sharks and Rays sustainability project, has established a user‐friendly web‐based platform to house and maintain a global census of chondrichthyans in public aquaria, research facilities, and beyond. The goals of the ICCHC include facilitating communication and supporting cooperative research, conservation of at‐risk species, and collaborative breeding programs. Over 20 Regional Coordinators have been recruited worldwide to rally and assist ICCHC participants. Each facility participating in the ICCHC is considered a team with a coordinator that approves or denies user permissions to view or edit their team’s data. In this way, each facility maintains control of their ICCHC data. Incorporating data from the former AES International Elasmobranch Census, the ICCHC already includes over 200 species from more than 130 facilities representing over 30 countries.
Supplementation of elasmobranchs: Are we hitting the mark?

Jennifer Wyffels,
South East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction & Conservation
Full Abstract
Elasmobranchs in aquaria often receive a supplement which provides vitamins and trace minerals designed to mimic the essential nutrients found in the diets of wild sharks. This is necessary due to vitamin degradation during food storage, differences in water quality, and/or not meeting the nutrient requirements in the wild-type diet. Because elasmobranchs in aquaria are susceptible to goiter caused by chronic iodide deficiency, iodine usually is included in supplements. Thyroid hormones are important regulators of growth and metabolism and influence reproduction. For mature male sand tiger sharks in aquaria, blood plasma iodine was higher and thyroid hormone lower than wild mature male sand tiger sharks for samples collected during spring and summer. No difference in iodine or thyroid hormone concentration was observed between seasons. For male sand tiger sharks in aquaria, high iodine and low thyroid hormone may contribute to the lack of reproductive success historically observed for this species.

Retro Brevi‐RAW‐stris: Caring for Geriatric Lemon Sharks

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Kassie Harrold & Alyssa Daily,
OdySea Aquarium
Full Abstract
Uncommon to exhibit in human care, N.brevirostris pose certain challenges in their everyday care. These challenges are exacerbated when the sharks exceed 25 years of age. At OdySea Aquarium, 2.1 geriatric lemon sharks are handled with much different care than their elasmobranch counterparts. From their arrival at OdySea, the simple task of handling these sensitive individuals proved to be the first of many learning experiences. These animals required more attention to detail when establishing a feeding method and showed many signs of medical anomalies from the beginning. The challenges continued with tumultuous interactions with other species housed in their 400,000 gallon exhibit, resulting in medical care rarely practiced on sharks of this size and age. With persistence, these animals have improved not only in their natural behaviors, but also in their interactions with staff. The care for these elderly sharks has transformed OdySea’s views on traditional elasmobranch husbandry.

Parthenogenesis in the epaulette shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum

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Sarah Tempesta,
New England Aquarium
Full Abstract
Parthenogenesis, or the development of an embryo without fertilization, has been recorded in at least six species of shark and two species of ray. However, it has never been recorded in the epaulette shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum. At the New England Aquarium, we have confirmed via genetic testing one birth as the product of parthenogenesis. Test results showed the offspring to be homozygous across all microsatellite loci tested. There have been three other births here under similar conditions and are presumed to be parthenogenesis as well, though the animals are not yet large enough to be tested. This has occurred in two different exhibits, meaning at least two of our ten female epaulettes are producing offspring without the presence of a male. We have had an epaulette breeding program here for a decade and will compare differences in birth size, growth rate, and behavior between our normal and parthenogenetic offspring.
Publishing Permission Pending

Power of ultrasound: A new technology provides insight into the reproductive biology of elasmobranchs

Taketeru Tomita,
Okinawa Churashima Reseach Center
Full Abstract
In the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, approximately 40 species of elasmobranchs have given birth in captivity, and many of them are world-first records. Since 2008, we have used an “underwater ultrasound” technique to observe previously unknown embryonic behavior in the maternal body. Accordingly, we revealed two reproductive mechanisms of viviparous elasmobranchs. First, many viviparous shark embryos use buccal pumping, which is the first direct evidence that these embryos obtain oxygen from the uterine fluid through their gills. Second, embryos of some shark species have a strong swimming ability, which may be an adaptation to search for nutritive eggs in utero. These findings emphasize that public aquaria have high potential for extending knowledge about the reproductive mechanisms of large aquatic animals that are difficult to study in the wild.

​Advances in the care and keeping of Mobula hypostoma

Frank Young,
Dynasty Marine
Full Abstract
Mobula hypostoma are a dynamic display animal that can be added to most medium to large displays with the proper husbandry techniques and preparation. The proper care for this species as well as other mobulids is more labor intensive and exact than any other rays. Dynasty Marine was worked with this species since 2014 and have successfully collected and supplied them to numerous facilities around the world. Over the course of this time, the husbandry protocol has been significantly advanced but further exploration is still needed. Like most advances in science, the best lessons are learned from failure. The majority of these failures have been overcome and new protocols are in place to avoid repeating past mistakes.