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She has also worked closely with the National Cancer Research Network to try and improve cancer management through clinical trials. ^[1]

Rough Draft of Wikipedia Article:

Introduction:

The Eastern Australian Sawshark, Pristiphorous peroniensis, formerly known as Pristiophorus sp, was defined as its own species in 2008. It comes from the family Pristiophoridae, found off the southeastern coast of Australia. Like other Sawsharks, it is characterized by an elongated, saw-like rostrum (snout) lined with sharp teeth. The species is currently listed as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature, due to its limited habitat and fishing in the area. This article aims to expand on general information surrounding Sawsharks, as there are few studies currently available about the Eastern Australian Sawshark, specifically.

Distribution and Habitat:

The Eastern Australian Sawshark lives in the Oceanic region, more specifically across the southeastern coast of Australia, ranging from New South Wales into Eastern Victoria, dipping into Bass Strait. (Citation). The species prefers to inhabit depths of one hundred to six hundred and thirty metres, making it a benthic species. Other Sawsharks, such as the Common Sawshark, prefer this habitat as they tend to do well in sandy and muddy conditions with cooler temperatures.

Biology and Ecology:

The Sawshark as a species is named after its key feature, its elongated rostrum and rostral teeth, making it distinctively different from other shark species. Based on anatomical features that match other Sawsharks and even Sawfish, it is thought that they use their elongated rostrum (snout) to detect prey and rostral teeth to strike the prey before consumption. This behavior is known to be true in Common Sawsharks, a close relative and similarly benthic species. Cone beam CT imaging has revealed that Common Sawsharks ingest prey head-first and may manipulate prey before swallowing, suggesting these specialized feeding mechanics. (citation) Additionally, the Common Sawshark consumes small fish and crustaceans, which is thought to be the diet of the Eastern Australian Sawshark as well, due to their similar biology. While it is not known for certain that the Eastern Australian Sawshark exhibits these behaviors, they share both biological features and habitat characteristics of the Common Sawshark, making it a high possibility.

A challenge with Sawsharks, as a whole, is determining the age range of the species. Studies on the common sawshark indicate that methods typically used for other sharks, such as examining growth rings in vertebrae or eye lenses, don’t apply to this species. The cartilage in sawsharks calcifies slowly and lacks clear growth markers; Therefore, researchers can’t determine what age a shark is the way they normally would. This knowledge gap complicates efforts to assess population dynamics and implement effective management strategies.

The Eastern Australian Sawshark, as mentioned earlier, is classified as near threatened due to its limited range and frequency of being caught in trawl and gillnet fisheries. While current assessments suggest that sawshark populations in Australian waters are generally stable, they remain vulnerable to expanding fishing pressures. The Eastern Australian Sawshark faces several risks, mainly from human activities. The most significant threat is bycatch, which is when they are caught accidentally in trawl and gillnet fisheries that target other species. These sharks live on the sea floor, where these fishing methods are used, so they are often captured even though they are not the intended catch. This can reduce their population, especially since scientists know little about their reproduction and growth rates.

To address these threats, the Australian Government has implemented management measures, including catch limits, regional management systems, and gear restrictions, to mitigate these risks. They use independent surveys and fisheries data to track population trends and fishing pressure. Continued monitoring and research are essential to ensure the species does not move toward a higher threat category. (citation).

Despite recent advances in understanding Sawshark biology, significant gaps remain regarding the life history, reproductive biology, and population of the species. Most available pieces of data are inferred from studies on the Common Sawshark, highlighting the need for targeted research solely on this species. Given that the species was only discovered and named in 2008, it is difficult to find studies or information that gives insights into these gaps. Improved age determination techniques and long-term population monitoring will be critical for effective conservation and overall expansion of knowledge for the species as a whole.

References

Burke, P. J., & Williamson, J. E. (2021). Using cone beam CT-scans to reveal head-first ingestion and possible prey manipulation tactics in sawsharks. Journal of Fish Biology, 99(1), 271–274. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14692

Burke, P. J., Raoult, V., Natanson, L. J., Murphy, T. D., Peddemors, V., & Williamson, J. E. (2020). Struggling with age: Common sawsharks (Pristiophorus cirratus) defy age determination using a range of traditional methods. Fisheries Research, 231, 105645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2020.105645

Nevatte, R. J., Wueringer, B. E., Gillings, M. R., & Williamson, J. E. (2019). Genetic and historical evidence of common sawsharks, Pristiophorus cirratus, in the waters of southern Queensland. Journal of Fish Biology, 95(5), 1342–1345. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14122

Nevatte, R. J., Wueringer, B. E., Jacob, D. E., Park, J. M., & Williamson, J. E. (2017). First insights into the function of the sawshark rostrum through examination of rostral tooth microwear. Journal of Fish Biology, 91(6), 1582–1602. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.13467

Woodhams, J., Braccini, M., Krueck, N., Peddemors, V., & Rogers, P. (2020). Sawsharks (Pristiophorus spp.). In Status of Australian Fish Stocks Report 2020. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. https://www.fish.gov.au/report/276-SAWSHARKS-2020

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