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Article
Intraspecific Variation in Vertical Habitat Use by Tiger Sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) in the Western North Atlantic
Ecology and Evolution
  • Jeremy J. Vaudo, Nova Southeastern University
  • Bradley M. Wetherbee, Nova Southeastern University
  • Guy Harvey, Nova Southeastern University
  • Richard S. Nemeth, University of the Virgin Islands
  • Choy Aming, Bermuda Shark Project
  • Lucy A. Howey-Jordan, Microwave Telemetry, Inc.
  • Mahmood S. Shivji, Nova Southeastern University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-12-2014
Keywords
  • Depth distribution,
  • Dive behavior,
  • Individual variation,
  • Movements,
  • Pop-up archival transmitting tag,
  • Telemetry
Abstract

Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) are a wide ranging, potentially keystone predator species that display a variety of horizontal movement patterns, making use of coastal and pelagic waters. Far less, however, is known about their vertical movements and use of the water column. We used pop-up satellite archival tags with two data sampling rates (high rate and standard rate tags) to investigate the vertical habitat use and diving behavior of tiger sharks tagged on the Puerto Rico–Virgin Islands platform and off Bermuda between 2008 and 2009. Useable data were received from nine of 14 sharks tagged, tracked over a total of 529 days. Sharks spent the majority of their time making yo-yo dives within the upper 50 m of the water column and considerable time within the upper 5 m of the water column. As a result, sharks typically occupied a narrow daily temperature range (~2°C). Dives to greater than 200 m were common, and all sharks made dives to at least 250 m, with one shark reaching a depth of 828 m. Despite some similarities among individuals, a great deal of intraspecific variability in vertical habit use was observed. Four distinct depth distributions that were not related to tagging location, horizontal movements, sex, or size were detected. In addition, similar depth distributions did not necessitate similar dive patterns among sharks. Recognition of intraspecific variability in habitat use of top predators can be crucial for effective management of these species and for understanding their influence on ecosystem dynamics.

Comments

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ResearcherID
G-4080-2013
DOI
10.1002/ece3.1053
Citation Information
Jeremy J. Vaudo, Bradley M. Wetherbee, Guy Harvey, Richard S. Nemeth, et al.. "Intraspecific Variation in Vertical Habitat Use by Tiger Sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) in the Western North Atlantic" Ecology and Evolution Vol. 4 Iss. 10 (2014) p. 1768 - 1786 ISSN: 2045-7758
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jeremy-vaudo/1/