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Residency, Site Fidelity, and Regional Movement of Tiger Sharks ( Galeocerdo cuvier ) at a Pupping Location in the Bahamas

Author

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  • Matthew J. Smukall

    (Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Hollywood, FL 33020, USA
    College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA)

  • Andrew C. Seitz

    (College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA)

  • Félicie Dhellemmes

    (Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Hollywood, FL 33020, USA
    Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 12587 Berlin, Germany)

  • Maurits P. M. van Zinnicq Bergmann

    (Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Hollywood, FL 33020, USA
    Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL 33199, USA)

  • Vital Heim

    (Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Hollywood, FL 33020, USA
    Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoology, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Samuel H. Gruber

    (Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Hollywood, FL 33020, USA
    This researcher died during the study.)

  • Tristan L. Guttridge

    (Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Hollywood, FL 33020, USA
    Saving the Blue, Cooper City, FL 33328, USA)

Abstract

Understanding space use and movement behavior can benefit conservation and management of species by identifying areas of high importance. However, this can be challenging for highly mobile species, especially those which use a wide range of habitats across ontogeny. The Bahamas is hypothesized to be an important area for tiger sharks, but the utility of the area for this species within the broader western North Atlantic is not fully understood. Therefore, we assessed (1) whether the area near Bimini serves as an important pupping location for tiger sharks, (2) their level of residency and site fidelity to the area, and (3) regional dispersal across ontogeny. Frequent captures of young-of-year tiger sharks, as well as ultrasonography showing near-term and recently postpartum females supports the hypothesis that pupping occurs in the area. However, small juveniles had low overall recapture rates and sparse acoustic detections near Bimini, indicating they do not reside in the area for long or may suffer high natural mortality. Large juvenile and sexually mature tiger sharks had higher overall local residency, which increased during cooler water winter months. The probability of dispersal from Bimini increased for larger individuals. Repeated, long-term site fidelity was displayed by some mature females, with several returning to Bimini across multiple years. Satellite tracking showed that tiger sharks extensively used areas outside of The Bahamas, including traveling more than 12,000 km. Together, these results show that Bimini is an important area for tiger sharks, serving as a pupping ground, rather than a nursery ground, a finding which could be incorporated into future conservation and management efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew J. Smukall & Andrew C. Seitz & Félicie Dhellemmes & Maurits P. M. van Zinnicq Bergmann & Vital Heim & Samuel H. Gruber & Tristan L. Guttridge, 2022. "Residency, Site Fidelity, and Regional Movement of Tiger Sharks ( Galeocerdo cuvier ) at a Pupping Location in the Bahamas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:16:p:10017-:d:887167
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. M. Aaron MacNeil & Demian D. Chapman & Michelle Heupel & Colin A. Simpfendorfer & Michael Heithaus & Mark Meekan & Euan Harvey & Jordan Goetze & Jeremy Kiszka & Mark E. Bond & Leanne M. Currey-Randall, 2020. "Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks," Nature, Nature, vol. 583(7818), pages 801-806, July.
    2. M. Aaron MacNeil & Demian D. Chapman & Michelle Heupel & Colin A. Simpfendorfer & Michael Heithaus & Mark Meekan & Euan Harvey & Jordan Goetze & Jeremy Kiszka & Mark E. Bond & Leanne M. Currey-Randall, 2020. "Author Correction: Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks," Nature, Nature, vol. 585(7825), pages 11-11, September.
    3. Nuno Queiroz & Nicolas E. Humphries & Ana Couto & Marisa Vedor & Ivo Costa & Ana M. M. Sequeira & Gonzalo Mucientes & António M. Santos & Francisco J. Abascal & Debra L. Abercrombie & Katya Abrantes &, 2019. "Global spatial risk assessment of sharks under the footprint of fisheries," Nature, Nature, vol. 572(7770), pages 461-466, August.
    4. André S Afonso & Fábio H V Hazin, 2015. "Vertical Movement Patterns and Ontogenetic Niche Expansion in the Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(1), pages 1-26, January.
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