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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Coastal swimming patterns of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at Mossel Bay, South Africa
Environmental Biology of Fishes, Volume 85, No. 3, Year 2009
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Description
Between June and December 2005, active and passive acoustic telemetry was used to examine fine scale movements of 13 white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) (ten passive, three active) at Mossel Bay. A total of 24 active trackings (ranging from 2 h to 103 h in duration) were conducted. Patterns of rate of movement (ROM), swimming linearity (LI), swimming bearing, and instantaneous swimming speed (ISS) were assessed. A conversion quotient (Q) of 1.21 between ISS and ROM (10 min sample interval) was calculated suggesting ROM is a good indicator of white shark activity. The mean ROM for tracked sharks was 0.52 m•s-1, with a greatest sustained ROM of 1.33 m•s -1 (4.8 km•h-1). Sharks displayed greatest LI and ROM during directional travels between the three persistent aggregation sites. The majority of the shark movement was, however, non-linear as the sharks repeat patrolled at the three aggregation sites. Two of these sites were not associated with pinniped presence, and sharks typically patrolled back and forth parallel to the shore line at a comparatively low ROM which suggested resting. The third aggregation site was adjacent to Seal Island, and despite low LI, sharks displayed a high ROM, indicating high activity levels. We propose that the high ROM is related to maximising search area when patrolling to hunt Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus p. pusillus). © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Authors & Co-Authors
Johnson, Ryan L.
South Africa
Oceans Research
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Bester, Marthán Nieuwoudt
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Dudley, Sheldon F.J.
South Africa, Umhlanga Rocks
Natal Sharks Board
South Africa, Durban
University of Kwazulu-natal
Oosthuizen, Wessel Herman
South Africa, Cape Town
Marine and Coastal Management
Meyër, Michael A.
South Africa, Cape Town
Marine and Coastal Management
Hancke, Lisa
South Africa, Cape Town
Cape Town
Gennari, Enrico
South Africa
Oceans Research
South Africa, Grahamstown
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
Statistics
Citations: 57
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s10641-009-9477-4
ISSN:
03781909
Study Locations
South Africa