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Variation in depth of whitetip reef sharks: does provisioning ecotourism change their behaviour?
Citation
Fitzpatrick, R and Abrantes, KG and Seymour, J and Barnett, A, Variation in depth of whitetip reef sharks: does provisioning ecotourism change their behaviour?, Coral Reefs, 30, (3) pp. 569-577. ISSN 0722-4028 (2011) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2011 Springer-Verlag.
DOI: doi:10.1007/s00338-011-0769-8
Abstract
In the dive tourism industry, shark provisioning
has become increasingly popular in many places around the
world. It is therefore important to determine the impacts
that provisioning may have on shark behaviour. In this
study, eight adult whitetip reef sharks Triaenodon obesus
were tagged with time-depth recorders at Osprey Reef in
the Coral Sea, Australia. Tags collected time and depth
data every 30 s. The absolute change in depth over 5-min
blocks was considered as a proxy for vertical activity level.
Daily variations in vertical activity levels were analysed to
determine the effects of time of day on whitetip reef shark
behaviour. This was done for days when dive boats were
absent from the area, and for days when dive boats were
present, conducting shark provisioning. Vertical activity
levels varied between day and night, and with the presence
of boats. In natural conditions (no boats present), sharks
remained at more constant depths during the day, while at
night animals continuously moved up and down the water
column, showing that whitetip reef sharks are nocturnally
active. When boats were present, however, there were also
long periods of vertical activity during the day. If resting
periods during the day are important for energy budgets,
then shark provisioning may affect their health. So, if this
behaviour alteration occurs frequently, e.g., daily, this has
the potential to have significant negative effects on the
animals’ metabolic rates, net energy gain and overall
health, reproduction and fitness.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Triaenodon obesus, ecotourism, shark feeds, depth use, disturbance, behavioural response, provisioning, sharks |
Research Division: | Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences |
Research Group: | Fisheries sciences |
Research Field: | Fisheries management |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems |
UTAS Author: | Barnett, A (Dr Adam Barnett) |
ID Code: | 76324 |
Year Published: | 2011 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 89 |
Deposited By: | Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration |
Deposited On: | 2012-03-05 |
Last Modified: | 2012-10-11 |
Downloads: | 24 View Download Statistics |
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