Widespread diversity deficits of coral reef sharks and rays
Authors: Simpfendorfer Colin A. , Heithaus Michael R. , Heupel Michelle R. , MacNeil M. Aaron , Meekan Mark , Harvey Euan , Sherman C. Samantha , Currey-Randall Leanne M. , Goetze Jordan S. , Kiszka Jeremy J. , Rees Matthew J. , Speed Conrad W. , Udyawer Vinay , Bond Mark E. , Flowers Kathryn I. , Clementi Gina M. , Valentin-Albanese Jasmine , Adam M. Shiham , Ali Khadeeja , Asher Jacob , Aylagas Eva , Beaufort Océane , Benjamin Cecilie , Bernard Anthony T. F. , Berumen Michael L. , Bierwagen Stacy , Birrell Chico , Bonnema Erika , Bown Rosalind M. K. , Brooks Edward J. , Brown J. Jed , Buddo Dayne , Burke Patrick J. , Cáceres Camila , Cambra Marta , Cardeñosa Diego , Carrier Jeffrey C. , Casareto Sara , Caselle Jennifer E. , Charloo Venkatesh , Cinner Joshua E. , Claverie Thomas , Clua Eric E. G. , Cochran Jesse E. M. , Cook Neil , Cramp Jessica E. , D’Alberto Brooke M. , de Graaf Martin , Dornhege Mareike C. , Espinoza Mario , Estep Andy , Fanovich Lanya , Farabaugh Naomi F. , Fernando Daniel , Ferreira Carlos E. L. , Fields Candace Y. A. , Flam Anna L. , Floros Camilla , Fourqurean Virginia , Gajdzik Laura , Barcia Laura García , Garla Ricardo , Gastrich Kirk , George Lachlan , Giarrizzo Tommaso , Graham Rory , Guttridge Tristan L. , Hagan Valerie , Hardenstine Royale S. , Heck Stephen M. , Henderson Aaron C. , Heithaus Patricia , Hertler Heidi , Padilla Mauricio Hoyos , Hueter Robert E. , Jabado Rima W. , Joyeux Jean-Christophe , Jaiteh Vanessa , Johnson Mohini , Jupiter Stacy D. , Kaimuddin Muslimin , Kasana Devanshi , Kelley Megan , Kessel Steven T. , Kiilu Benedict , Kirata Taratau , Kuguru Baraka , Kyne Fabian , Langlois Tim , Lara Frida , Lawe Jaedon , Lédée Elodie J. I. , Lindfield Steve , Luna-Acosta Andrea , Maggs Jade Q. , Manjaji-Matsumoto B. Mabel , Marshall Andrea , Martin Lucy , Mateos-Molina Daniel , Matich Philip , McCombs Erin , McIvor Ashlie , McLean Dianne , Meggs Llewelyn , Moore Stephen , Mukherji Sushmita , Murray Ryan , Newman Stephen J. , Nogués Josep , Obota Clay , Ochavillo Domingo , O'Shea Owen , Osuka Kennedy E. , Papastamatiou Yannis P. , Perera Nishan , Peterson Bradley , Pimentel Caio R. , Pina-Amargós Fabián , Pinheiro Hudson T. , Ponzo Alessandro , Prasetyo Andhika , Quamar L. M. Sjamsul , Quinlan Jessica R. , Reis-Filho José Amorim , Ruiz Hector , Ruiz-Abierno Alexei , Sala Enric , de-León Pelayo Salinas , Samoilys Melita A. , Sample William R. , Schärer-Umpierre Michelle , Schlaff Audrey M. , Schmid Kurt , Schoen Sara N. , Simpson Nikola , Smith Adam N. H. , Spaet Julia L. Y. , Sparks Lauren , Stoffers Twan , Tanna Akshay , Torres Rubén , Travers Michael J. , van Zinnicq Bergmann Maurits , Vigliola Laurent , Ward Juney , Warren Joseph D. , Watts Alexandra M. , Wen Colin K. , Whitman Elizabeth R. , Wirsing Aaron J. , Wothke Aljoscha , Zarza-González Esteban , Chapman Demian D. 
Published: June 2023

A global survey of coral reefs reveals that overfishing is driving resident shark species toward extinction, causing diversity deficits in reef elasmobranch (shark and ray) assemblages. Our species-level analysis revealed global declines of 60 to 73% for five common resident reef shark species and that individual shark species were not detected at 34 to 47% of surveyed reefs. As reefs become more shark-depleted, rays begin to dominate assemblages. Shark-dominated assemblages persist in wealthy nations with strong governance and in highly protected areas, whereas poverty, weak governance, and a lack of shark management are associated with depauperate assemblages mainly composed of rays. Without action to address these diversity deficits, loss of ecological function and ecosystem services will increasingly affect human communities.