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Scaling laws of marine predator search behaviour

Author

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  • David W. Sims

    (Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
    Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences,)

  • Emily J. Southall

    (Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK)

  • Nicolas E. Humphries

    (Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK)

  • Graeme C. Hays

    (Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK)

  • Corey J. A. Bradshaw

    (School for Environmental Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia
    Present address: Research Institute for Climate Change and Sustainability, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.)

  • Jonathan W. Pitchford

    (University of York)

  • Alex James

    (University of York
    University of Canterbury)

  • Mohammed Z. Ahmed

    (School of Computing, Communications and Electronics, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK)

  • Andrew S. Brierley

    (Gatty Marine Laboratory, School of Biology, University of St Andrews)

  • Mark A. Hindell

    (School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 05, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia)

  • David Morritt

    (School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London)

  • Michael K. Musyl

    (Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Pelagic Fisheries Research Programme, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Kewalo Research Facility/NOAA Fisheries, 1125-B Ala Mona Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814, USA)

  • David Righton

    (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, UK)

  • Emily L. C. Shepard

    (Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK)

  • Victoria J. Wearmouth

    (Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK)

  • Rory P. Wilson

    (Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK)

  • Matthew J. Witt

    (Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter in Cornwall)

  • Julian D. Metcalfe

    (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, UK)

Abstract

A Lévy walk on the wild side Little is known about what controls predator movement patterns, and hence their distribution in the natural environment because in most cases they are logistically difficult to study. This lack of knowledge hinders progress in making realistic predictions about how these important species will respond to environmental change. Now an electronic tagging study of over a million movement displacements of individual marine predators — including basking sharks, sea turtles and penguins — has provided the data needed to analyse predator search patterns. What emerges is in line with the 'Lévy-walk' model, the predicted optimal strategy for a predator with little prior knowledge of prey distribution. Simulations suggest that the foraging predators adopt a random walk characterized by many short steps and rare long steps, maximizing encounter rates in natural-like prey fields.

Suggested Citation

  • David W. Sims & Emily J. Southall & Nicolas E. Humphries & Graeme C. Hays & Corey J. A. Bradshaw & Jonathan W. Pitchford & Alex James & Mohammed Z. Ahmed & Andrew S. Brierley & Mark A. Hindell & David, 2008. "Scaling laws of marine predator search behaviour," Nature, Nature, vol. 451(7182), pages 1098-1102, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:451:y:2008:i:7182:d:10.1038_nature06518
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06518
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