Integrating Biodiversity, Ecology, and Management in Shark Research

Dear Colleagues,

Sharks represent one of the most ecologically and evolutionarily distinctive vertebrate lineages, with a history spanning over 400 million years. Despite their evolutionary success, many species face unprecedented pressures from overexploitation, habitat degradation, and climate change. As apex and mesopredators, sharks play a critical role in maintaining the structure and function of marine ecosystems. However, our understanding of their biodiversity, ecological interactions, and responses to human activities is incomplete.

This Special Issue, “Integrating Biodiversity, Ecology, and Management in Shark Research”, aims to bring together cutting-edge contributions that advance our knowledge of shark diversity and biology while also addressing the urgent challenges of conservation and management. We welcome studies that integrate perspectives from taxonomy, systematics, genomics, and morphology, as well as those that focus on ecology, behaviour, fishery interactions, and ecosystem services. Applied research on conservation strategies, management frameworks, and policy implications are also strongly encouraged.

By highlighting interdisciplinary approaches and case studies from different regions of the world, this Special Issue seeks to foster a comprehensive understanding of sharks as both biological entities and conservation priorities. This will provide a platform for advancing science-based strategies to ensure the persistence of shark populations and the ecosystems they support in a rapidly changing ocean.

Prof. Dr. Carlos Bustamante
Prof. Dr. Carlos J. Polo-Silva
Guest Editors

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