The spatial ecology of the Critically Endangered Angelshark (Squatina squatina) and implications for conservation

天使鲨科（Squatinidae）是全球最受威胁的软骨鱼类之一，而Squatina squatina（Angelshark）在IUCN濒危物种红色名录中被列为极度濒危物种。曾经广泛分布在东北大西洋、地中海和黑海，过度开发和沿海栖息地退化导致了范围的急剧缩小。天使鲨现在只限于少数几个小的，分散的种群。由于其数量少，仍然明显缺乏关于天使鲨的生活史，分布，运动生态和栖息地要求的数据，进一步的研究对于指导政策和支持保护决策是必要和紧迫的。该项目将解决加那利群岛成年天使鲨的空间和行为生态学方面的关键知识差距，这是该物种的独特据点。将利用声学遥测技术提供来自La Graciosa海洋保护区的详细、长期和全天候的生态数据。空间网络分析将用于调查网站保真度，空间使用，栖息地偏好和分布驱动程序。至关重要的是，该项目的数据和发现将用于有效保护天使鲨，目的是确保加那利群岛和更远地区的物种的未来。

The angel shark family (Squatinidae) is one of the most threatened chondrichthyan families globally, and Squatina squatina (Angelshark) is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Once widespread across the northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean and Black Seas, overexploitation and coastal habitat degradation have driven drastic range contractions. Angelsharks are now limited to a few small, fragmented populations. Due to their low numbers, there remains a distinct lack of data on the life history, distribution, movement ecology and habitat requirements of Angelsharks, and further research is essential and urgent to guide policy and support conservation decision making. This project will address critical knowledge gaps in the spatial and behavioural ecology of adult Angelsharks in the Canary Islands, a unique stronghold for this species. Acoustic telemetry will be utilised in order to provide detailed, long-term and round-the-clock ecological data from La Graciosa Marine Reserve. Spatial network analyses will be used to investigate site fidelity, space-use, habitat preference and distribution drivers. Crucially, the data and findings from this project will be used to inform effective protection of Angelsharks, with the aim of securing the future of the species in the Canary Islands and further afield.