Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2023
Höfundar / Authors: Björn C. Schäffner (1)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: Institute for Experimental Pathology at Keldur, University of Iceland
Kynnir / Presenter: Björn C. Schäffner
South Africa´s bather protection program was implemented to reduce the risks of unprovoked shark attacks. The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board (KZNSB) currently deploys safety gear (gill-nets, baited drumlines) at 37 beaches, thereby trying to minimise environmental impacts. The safety gear of the KZNSB is primarily aimed at large mackerel (Lamniformes) and ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes). While live animals are released, deceased specimens are transported to the KZNSB facilities and frozen prior to animal dissection and scientific research. Apart from invaluable biological data on captured marine animals, parasite samples are obtained from a wide array of cartilaginous fishes. Parasitic copepods are the most well-known parasite group of chondrichthyans in South Africa with almost 100 reported species. However, information on other dominant parasite groups (i.e. endoparasitic platyhelminths) infecting cartilaginous fishes is sparse. The large-scale, collaborative research project will assess the full spectrum of parasitic organisms and reveal the ‘hidden’ parasite fauna of lamniform and carcharhinid sharks in eastern South Africa. Future studies on this neglected faunal aspect will not only increase and build upon the largely incomplete knowledge of marine parasites but also expand the number of known species, many of which awaiting scientific discovery.