Diving into the vertical dimension of elasmobranch movement ecology
Authors: Andrzejaczek Samantha , Lucas Tim C.D. , Goodman Maurice C. , Hussey Nigel E. , Armstrong Amelia J. , Carlisle Aaron , Coffey Daniel M. , Gleiss Adrian C. , Huveneers Charlie , Jacoby David M. P. , Meekan Mark G. , Mourier Johann , Peel Lauren R. , Abrantes Kátya , Afonso André S. , Ajemian Matthew J. , Anderson Brooke N. , Anderson Scot D. , Araujo Gonzalo , Armstrong Asia O. , Bach Pascal , Barnett Adam , Bennett Mike B. , Bezerra Natalia A. , Bonfil Ramon , Boustany Andre M. , Bowlby Heather D. , Branco Ilka , Braun Camrin D. , Brooks Edward J. , Brown Judith , Burke Patrick J. , Butcher Paul , Castleton Michael , Chapple Taylor K. , Chateau Olivier , Clarke Maurice , Coelho Rui , Cortes Enric , Couturier Lydie I. E. , Cowley Paul D. , Croll Donald A. , Cuevas Juan M. , Curtis Tobey H. , Dagorn Laurent , Dale Jonathan J. , Daly Ryan , Dewar Heidi , Doherty Philip D. , Domingo Andrés , Dove Alistair D. M. , Drew Michael , Dudgeon Christine L. , Duffy Clinton A. J. , Elliott Riley G. , Ellis Jim R. , Erdmann Mark V. , Farrugia Thomas J. , Ferreira Luciana C. , Ferretti Francesco , Filmalter John D. , Finucci Brittany , Fischer Chris , Fitzpatrick Richard , Forget Fabien , Forsberg Kerstin , Francis Malcolm P. , Franks Bryan R. , Gallagher Austin J. , Galvan-Magana Felipe , García Mirta L. , Gaston Troy F. , Gillanders Bronwyn M. , Gollock Matthew J. , Green Jonathan R. , Green Sofia , Griffiths Christopher A. , Hammerschlag Neil , Hasan Abdi , Hawkes Lucy A. , Hazin Fabio , Heard Matthew , Hearn Alex , Hedges Kevin J. , Henderson Suzanne M. , Holdsworth John , Holland Kim N. , Howey Lucy A. , Hueter Robert E. , Humphries Nicholas E. , Hutchinson Melanie , Jaine Fabrice R. A. , Jorgensen Salvador J. , Kanive Paul E. , Labaja Jessica , Lana Fernanda O. , Lassauce Hugo , Lipscombe Rebecca S. , Llewellyn Fiona , Macena Bruno C. L. , Mambrasar Ronald , McAllister Jaime D. , McCully Phillips Sophy R. , McGregor Frazer , McMillan Matthew N. , McNaughton Lianne M. , Mendonça Sibele A. , Meyer Carl G. , Meyers Megan , Mohan John A. , Montgomery John C. , Mucientes Gonzalo , Musyl Michael K. , Nasby-Lucas Nicole , Natanson Lisa J. , O’Sullivan John B. , Oliveira Paulo , Papastamtiou Yannis P. , Patterson Toby A. , Pierce Simon J. , Queiroz Nuno , Radford Craig A. , Richardson Andy J. , Richardson Anthony J. , Righton David , Rohner Christoph A. , Royer Mark A. , Saunders Ryan A. , Schaber Matthias , Schallert Robert J. , Scholl Michael C. , Seitz Andrew C. , Semmens Jayson M. , Setyawan Edy , Shea Brendan D. , Shidqi Rafid A. , Shillinger George L. , Shipley Oliver N. , Shivji Mahmood S. , Sianipar Abraham B. , Silva Joana F. , Sims David W. , Skomal Gregory B. , Sousa Lara L. , Southall Emily J. , Spaet Julia L. Y. , Stehfest Kilian M. , Stevens Guy , Stewart Joshua D. , Sulikowski James A. , Syakurachman Ismail , Thorrold Simon R. , Thums Michele , Tickler David , Tolloti Mariana T. , Townsend Kathy A. , Travassos Paulo , Tyminski John P. , Vaudo Jeremy J. , Veras Drausio , Wantiez Laurent , Weber Sam B. , Wells R.J. David , Weng Kevin C. , Wetherbee Bradley M. , Williamson Jane E. , Witt Matthew J. , Wright Serena , Zilliacus Kelly , Block Barbara A. , Curnick David J. 
Published: August 2022

Knowledge of the three-dimensional movement patterns of elasmobranchs is vital to understand their ecological roles and exposure to anthropogenic pressures. To date, comparative studies among species at global scales have mostly focused on horizontal movements. Our study addresses the knowledge gap of vertical movements by compiling the first global synthesis of vertical habitat use by elasmobranchs from data obtained by deployment of 989 biotelemetry tags on 38 elasmobranch species. Elasmobranchs displayed high intra- and interspecific variability in vertical movement patterns. Substantial vertical overlap was observed for many epipelagic elasmobranchs, indicating an increased likelihood to display spatial overlap, biologically interact, and share similar risk to anthropogenic threats that vary on a vertical gradient. We highlight the critical next steps toward incorporating vertical movement into global management and monitoring strategies for elasmobranchs, emphasizing the need to address geographic and taxonomic biases in deployments and to concurrently consider both horizontal and vertical movements.