Current Research

The Pacific Shark Research Center studies diverse aspects of chondrichthyan biology in the Eastern North Pacific and around the World

Looking for Lost Sharks: An Exploration of Discovery

When people hear about the word ‘sharks’, they automatically think of white sharks, hammerheads, blue sharks, or whale sharks. These majestic large sharks represent a very small proportion of the sharks present in the world. More than 520+ species of sharks have been discovered and many more are still waiting to be identified. If you add the rays, skates, and chimaeras, around 1400+ species of elasmobranchs have been discovered. Unfortunately, a recent study has suggested that 25% of these species are under threat of extinction. Why? Many species of sharks are heavily fished in regions where fishing regulations are poorly managed. Endemic species that were found in certain areas, decades ago are rare now, if they are seen at all!

The PSRC has actively been involved with the IUCN Shark Specialist Group in assessing the conservation status of chondrichthyans through the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Biodiversity, Life History, and Conservation of Eastern Pacific Chondrichthyans

An evaluation of mercury offloading in three central California elasmobranchs. Kelley van Hees (2014) Masters of Science

A taxonomic revision of eastern North Pacific softnose skates (Arhynchobatidae: Bathyraja Ishyama). James Knuckey (2017) Masters of Science

Changes in the elasmobranch assemblage in Elkhorn Slough, California. Catarina Pien (2018) Masters of Science

Multiple paternity in Big Skate Beringraja binoculata (Girard, 1855): post copulatory sexual selection in offspring development. Jessica Jang (2019) Masters of Science

Spatial and habitat associations of eastern North Pacific catsharks Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae). Amber Reichert (2020) Masters of Science

Habitat association of San Francisco Bay elasmobranchs. Vicky Vásquez, thesis project

Biodiversity, Life History, and Conservation of Western Indian Ocean Chondrichthyans

Life history aspects and taxonomy of deep-sea Chondrichthyans in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Paul Clerkin (2017) Masters of Science

Taxonomic Revision of the short-nose chimaeras (Genus Hydrolagus)   from the southern African region. Kristin Walovich (2017) Masters of Science

What are they doing down there: an investigation of multiple paternity in a deep-sea shark. Melissa Nehmens (2019) Masters of Science

A systematic revision of the genus Apristurus Garman 1913 (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Pentanchidae) from the southwestern Indian Ocean. Justin Cordova, thesis project

A taxonomic revision of critically endangered guitarfishes (Rhinopristiformes: Glaucostegidae & Rhinobatidae). Rachel Aitchison, thesis project