Mapping knowledge and conservation gaps in Atlantic nurse shark research: A global North-South perspective

ABSTRACT Sharks and rays are among the most threatened vertebrates worldwide, and understanding how scientific attention has developed for individual species is essential for effective conservation. The Atlantic nurse shark ( Ginglymostoma cirratum ), a large, slow-growing coastal predator distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean, has long served as both a laboratory model and a conservation concern. This systematic review synthesized 342 peer-reviewed publications from 1897 to 2024 following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Research output increased markedly after the 1980s but remains uneven across disciplines and regions. Physiological and immunological studies dominate the literature, whereas ecological, demographic, and conservation-focused works are comparatively underrepresented. Most experimental research originates from the Global North, particularly the United States and The Bahamas, while field studies in the Global South are concentrated in Brazil and depend heavily on fishery-derived samples. Large portions of the species’ range, especially in the eastern Atlantic, remain poorly investigated. Limited integration among physiological, ecological, and social dimensions constrains the translation of biological knowledge into management and policy. Strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations, expanding research capacity in underrepresented regions, and linking organismal biology to population and ecosystem scales are essential to transform decades of scientific knowledge into actionable strategies that support the long-term conservation of Ginglymostoma cirratum.