Movement patterns and habitat use of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) across ontogeny in the Gulf of Mexico

PloS One
Matthew J AjemianGregory W Stunz

Abstract

The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is globally distributed with established coastal and open-ocean movement patterns in many portions of its range. While all life stages of tiger sharks are known to occur in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), variability in habitat use and movement patterns over ontogeny have never been quantified in this large marine ecosystem. To address this data gap we fitted 56 tiger sharks with Smart Position and Temperature transmitting tags between 2010 and 2018 and examined seasonal and spatial distribution patterns across the GoM. Additionally, we analyzed overlap of core habitats (i.e., 50% kernel density estimates) among individuals relative to large benthic features (oil and gas platforms, natural banks, bathymetric breaks). Our analyses revealed significant ontogenetic and seasonal differences in distribution patterns as well as across-shelf (i.e., regional) and sex-linked variability in movement rates. Presumably sub-adult and adult sharks achieved significantly higher movement rates and used off-shelf deeper habitats at greater proportions than juvenile sharks, particularly during the fall and winter seasons. Further, female maximum rate of movement was higher than males when accounting for size. Additi...Continue Reading

References

Nov 8, 2012·Journal of Fish Biology·A S AfonsoR P Lessa
Oct 29, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·David L ValentineMary A Woo
Jun 13, 2015·Science·Nigel E HusseyFred G Whoriskey
Jan 27, 2016·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Nuno QueirozDavid W Sims
Nov 23, 2017·The National Medical Journal of India·M K Mani
Feb 9, 2019·Scientific Reports·Jay R RookerJohn F Walter
Mar 19, 2019·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Graeme C HaysAna M M Sequeira

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Citations

May 26, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Bianca de Sousa RangelNeil Hammerschlag

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Software Mentioned

FoieGras
Imagery
ArcMap
adehabitatHR
R

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