https://scopesscience.com/index.php/marep/issue/feed 2026-10-02T20:17:27+02:00 Murat Yiğit marep@scopesscience.com Open Journal Systems <p><strong><img src="https://scopesscience.com/public/site/images/scopes/mceclip4-2387e7d646a6da74ceb73e68ecbf086d.png" /><br />MARINE REPORTS</strong></p> <p><em>MARINE REPORTS, </em>an International Scientific Journal publishing double blind peer-reviewed (Reviewers are unaware of the identity of the authors, and authors are also unaware of the identity of reviewers) original research articles, short communications, technical notes, letters to the Editor with innovative opinion and visions for the future, and critical review articles enlightening scientific understanding of the marine and freshwater system with wide aspects in environment, biology, fisheries, aquaculture, and human interactions and contributions from all over the World. <a href="https://scopesscience.com/index.php/marep/about">More&gt;&gt;</a></p> <p> </p> https://scopesscience.com/index.php/marep/article/view/160 2026-06-25T10:38:02+02:00 Gobiraj RAMAJEYAM gobi@blueresources.org Akshay TANNA akshay@blueresources.org Daniel FERNANDO daniel@blueresources.org Rima W. JABADO rimajabado@hotmail.com Sivashanthini KUGANATHAN sivashanthini@univ.jfn.ac.lk

<p style="font-weight: 400;">Elasmobranchs play important ecological roles in coastal marine ecosystems, functioning as predators, mesopredators, and occasional scavengers. Guitarfishes (order Rhinopristiformes) are key benthic components but are increasingly threatened by fishing pressure, particularly bycatch in small-scale fisheries. This study examines the feeding ecology and ontogenetic dietary variation of the Sharpnose Guitarfish <em>Glaucostegus granulatus</em> in northern Sri Lanka. Landings were monitored at Mathagal between December 2020 and July 2022, and 112 individuals were examined. Total length ranged from 25.00 to 161.00 cm, with females attaining larger sizes and higher body weights than males. Maturity ogives estimated lengths at 50% maturity (L_m50) of 68.60 cm for males and 119.80 cm for females. The species was captured exclusively as bycatch across multiple fishing gears, with crab gillnets accounting for over 80.00% of sampled individuals and showing a disproportionately high representation of immature individuals. Dietary composition was assessed using numerical, gravimetric, frequency of occurrence, and Index of Relative Importance (IRI) metrics. The diet was dominated by shrimps, accounting for 88.40% of prey number and an IRI (%) of 92.90, while teleosts were secondary prey. Levin’s standardized niche breadth was low (Bₐ = 0.06–0.16). Although dietary diversity and prey contributions varied modestly between maturity groups, multivariate analysis showed no significant separation in diet composition, indicating substantial dietary overlap. These findings provide insights into the feeding ecology and fishery interactions of <em>G. granulatus</em> and highlight the need for research on habitat use, gear-specific interactions, and post-capture survival to inform conservation.</p>

2026-10-02T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Gobiraj RAMAJEYAM, Akshay TANNA, Daniel FERNANDO, Rima W. JABADO, Sivashanthini KUGANATHAN