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<p>Water temperature is a key driver of marine species physiology, yet thermal tolerance data remain limited for elasmobranchs, especially tropical batoids. The Atlantic chupare ray (<i>Styracura schmardae</i>), a large estuarine-associated species found across the western tropical Atlantic Ocean, exhibits strong site fidelity in shallow nursery habitats in The Bahamas. This study documents the persistence of juvenile <i>S. schmardae</i> under elevated environmental conditions in a mangrove-fringed creek in South Eleuthera Island. During multiple field surveys, individuals were consistently observed in water temperatures reaching 39.8&#xa0;°C and salinities exceeding 45 ppt. Despite these elevated conditions, the juveniles demonstrated continued site fidelity, suggesting greater thermal and osmotic tolerance. These results provide the first field-based evidence of short-term resilience to acute environmental stress in this species and point to the urgent need for targeted physiological research, particularly as climate extremes become more frequent in tropical coastal ecosystems.</p>

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Opportunistic observations indicate high thermal tolerance in juvenile Atlantic chupare (Styracura schmardae)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月10日

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  • Natascha Wosnick,
  • Richard Leighton Graham,
  • Kristin Wallace,
  • Sarontaa Bain,
  • Patricia Charvet

摘要

Water temperature is a key driver of marine species physiology, yet thermal tolerance data remain limited for elasmobranchs, especially tropical batoids. The Atlantic chupare ray (Styracura schmardae), a large estuarine-associated species found across the western tropical Atlantic Ocean, exhibits strong site fidelity in shallow nursery habitats in The Bahamas. This study documents the persistence of juvenile S. schmardae under elevated environmental conditions in a mangrove-fringed creek in South Eleuthera Island. During multiple field surveys, individuals were consistently observed in water temperatures reaching 39.8 °C and salinities exceeding 45 ppt. Despite these elevated conditions, the juveniles demonstrated continued site fidelity, suggesting greater thermal and osmotic tolerance. These results provide the first field-based evidence of short-term resilience to acute environmental stress in this species and point to the urgent need for targeted physiological research, particularly as climate extremes become more frequent in tropical coastal ecosystems.