As many of the world’s shark and ray populations continue to decline there is a growing need for improved conservation and management. One of the key requirements enabling design of effective conservation and management actions is life history parameters as these provide basic information on the dynamics of populations. Life history parameters (e.g. age, growth and reproduction) are directly tied to the reproductive output of a species, and thus unequivocally linked to the capacity of a population to withstand exploitation and to recover from decline. Despite this importance, research on the life history of sharks and rays has declined in recent years as ‘cooler’ and non-lethal topics have become more commonplace. However, on-going research on life history is fundamental for positive action to address declines of shark populations and policies aimed at recovery of populations. To highlight research that has been and is being conducted on the life history of sharks and rays, we have compiled a ‘Shark and ray life history’ virtual issue of Marine and Freshwater Research, which is freely available from the Journal’s website for a limited time.

Information of the age composition, reproductive characteristics and growth rates of animal populations is vital for implementation of effective management and conservation plans, as well as understanding trophic interactions. We aimed to quantify these parameters for the brown stingray, Dasyatis lata, an abundant benthic predator in Hawai’i, and found that they are long-lived, slow growing and mature at a late age. Our study highlights the importance of obtaining baseline data for elasmobranchs before fisheries are established.

This study provides updated life history information for two commercially important sharks from northern Australia; the spot-tail shark, Carcharhinus sorrah, and the Australian blacktip shark, Carcharhinus tilstoni. Quantitative relationships among age, growth and reproductive biology are presented for both species. The findings indicated that C. tilstoni, in particular, begins reproducing at an older age and lives longer than previously thought.

Evidence suggests multiple subpopulations of Heterodontus portusjacksoni occur in its range. If true, then phenotypic variation may result in significantly different life-history parameters among regional groups. This study estimated rates of growth for H. portusjacksoni from South Australia, and made comparisons of the available life-history data among regional groups. While growth curves differed significantly among populations, considerable overlap among the some parameters prevented the delineation of definitive subpopulations.

A lot still remains to be discovered about the whale shark, the largest fish in the world, including how old it can live and how fast it grows. In this study, we studied its vertebrae to answer these age and growth questions. Our results will help analyse further population and management problems for this circumglobal but vulnerable species.

A lot still remains to be discovered about the whale shark, the largest fish in the world, including how old it can live and how fast it grows. In this study, we studied its vertebrae to answer these age and growth questions. Our results will help analyse further population and management problems for this circumglobal but vulnerable species.

This paper is a first original contribution to provide information about the life cycle of the rough skate, Raja radula, in the Mediterranean. We aimed to estimate age, growth and reproductive parameters for this species from the Gulf of Gabes. An annual deposition of growth bands was confirmed; the oldest female and male in the study were 12 and 9 years old respectively; R. radula has a continuous reproductive cycle.

Validated life history traits (age, growth and reproductive characters) were described for the blacktip reef shark. Growth models and reproductive indicators reveal that the species is relatively slow growing with low reproductive output. However, the study also revealed issues with chemical marking techniques that could lead to underestimating longevity. The slow growth and low reproduction evident suggest that the blacktip reef shark may be sensitive to impacts.

Validated age and growth estimates are crucial to fisheries management, but are still uncommon for elasmobranch species. Bomb radiocarbon analysis was used to validate lifespan of sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) and indicated that ages based on vertebral growth-band counts were underestimated by up to 18 years in the largest specimens. These results have implications for management of C. taurus populations and also suggest that measurable vertebral growth may cease at some point.

The knowledge of reproductive parameters is essential to develop effective management and conservation plans. The present study provides the first information on the reproductive biology of an abundant trawl by-catch skate, Bathyraja magellanica, in the south-western Atlantic. Our results indicated that this species has a low reproductive efficiency, suggesting that populations should be monitored closely.

The life histories of small-bodied coastal sharks are generally less conservative than large-bodied species. The present study aimed to describe, for the first time, the detailed life history of the small-bodied slit-eye shark, Loxodon macrorhinus. In comparison to other coastal sharks, the biology of the species conforms to that of other small-bodied species, with its apparent fast growth and early maturation contrasting that of large-bodied species.

Whether spatial variation occurs in chondrichthyan species life-history traits is important to fisheries management and assessments. While providing a greater understanding of the reproductive biology of U. paucimaculatus from SE Australia, the present study also demonstrates U. paucimaculatus have phenotypically adapted their reproduction to surrounding environments, with regional differences within SE, and between SE and SW Australian populations. The present study provides further evidence that chondrichthyan life-history traits can vary within small geographical areas.