Determinants Of Bite Force In Four Species Of Sharks From The Gulf Of Mexico With An Emphasis On The Atlantic Sharpnose Shark, Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae

Bite force can provide valuable information regarding the physiological ecology of an organism. However, there have been few studies wherein bite force in sharks has been considered. Herein I report on a study of the bite force of four species of sharks with particular emphasis on that of the atlantic sharpnose shark, rhizoprionodon terraenovae<italic/>. Among the four species examined, blacktip shark, carcharhinus limbatus bite force was significantly higher than that of sharpnose, rhizoprionodon terraenovae. There was no significant difference between the bite force of those species compared with the same for finetooth shark, c. Isodon and spinner shark, c. Brevipinna. Within atlantic sharpnose sharks, I examined both voluntary and involuntary (obtained using jaw musculature stimulation) bite force measurements, and I investigated differences in bite force between size, sex, season, gape, and capture method. Additionally, I examined bite force differences between anterior and posterior positions in the jaw, and considered correlations between various head morphometrics and anterior bite force. Sharpnose sharks, ranging between 55.1 &ndash; 105.5 cm, had an anterior bite force between 4.4 &ndash; 60.2 n, and a posterior force of 20.9 &ndash; 102.8 n. There was no significant difference between the different methods used to determine bite force. Adult females had a greater anterior force than adult males, but there was no difference in posterior force. Anterior force was found to be weakest in the summer months and highest in the spring and fall. As gape increased the anterior bite force increased, with the greatest force found between 70 &ndash; 80% of maximum gape. Longlining captured sharks produced significantly lower bite force when compared to hook and line capture.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S. in Biological Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2014

Author dc:creator

• Rice, Kyle Walter

Contributors dc:contributor

• Glenn R. Parsons
• Brice P. Noonan
• Richard Buchholz

• Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks
• Bite Force
• Gape
• Seasonal Stress
• Shark Head Morphology
• Zoology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/908

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:egrove.olemiss.edu:etd-1907