Surface behaviour of bait-attracted white sharks at Dyer Island (South Africa)

Sperone, Emilio; Micarelli, Primo; Andreotti, Sara; Brandmayr, Pietro; Bernabò, Ilaria; Brunelli, Elvira; Tripepi, Sandro

doi:10.1080/17451000.2012.708043

Cited by 18 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The surface behaviour of white sharks was defined according to the types of display observed during ecotourism activities (Sperone et al, , ). The frequency and sequence of these behaviours were registered and then used to create an ethogram.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At continental aggregation sites, the ethology of C. carcharias has been used to describe hunting strategies (Klimley, Pyle, & Anderson, ; Martin, ; Martin, Hammerschlag, Collier, & Fallows, ; Tricas, ), effects of environmental factors on abundance and hunting strategies (Hammerschlag, Martin, & Fallows, ; Pyle, Klimley, Anderson, & Henderson, ), and local movements of white sharks around pinniped colonies (Goldman & Anderson, ; Klimley et al, ). Regarding the surface behaviour of bait‐attracted white sharks, Sperone et al () observed eight behavioural responses that showed a complex tactical situation with multiple responses for the acquisition of baits, such as predatory and social behaviours previously observed for South African white sharks (Martin et al, ; Sperone et al, ). However, the study of the surface behaviour at other aggregation sites is poorly understood (Laroche, Kock, Lawrence, & Oosthuizen, ; Sperone et al, , ) despite the increasing demand of ecotourism (Cisneros‐Montemayor, Barnes‐Mauthe, Al‐Abdulrazzak, Navarro‐Holm, & Sumaila, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regarding the surface behaviour of bait‐attracted white sharks, Sperone et al () observed eight behavioural responses that showed a complex tactical situation with multiple responses for the acquisition of baits, such as predatory and social behaviours previously observed for South African white sharks (Martin et al, ; Sperone et al, ). However, the study of the surface behaviour at other aggregation sites is poorly understood (Laroche, Kock, Lawrence, & Oosthuizen, ; Sperone et al, , ) despite the increasing demand of ecotourism (Cisneros‐Montemayor, Barnes‐Mauthe, Al‐Abdulrazzak, Navarro‐Holm, & Sumaila, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is no ethological research describing the surface behaviour of white sharks related to cage‐diving boats in Mexico or in the whole eastern Pacific, despite its importance for the Mexican authorities (Becerril‐García, ; Torres‐Aguilar et al, ). These ethological studies have proven to be useful for the description of behavioural events under baiting situations in South Africa (Sperone et al, , ) and could be used for the monitoring of this species during ecotourism.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The surface behaviour of white sharks during ecotourism: A baseline for monitoring this threatened species around Guadalupe Island, Mexico

Becerril‐García

Hoyos-Padilla

Micarelli³

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Cage diving is the most important activity for the sustainable use of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). However, information related to their behaviour during ecotourism is scarce.2. This study provides useful information for monitoring C. carcharias during cagediving activities around Guadalupe Island, Mexico. Surface behaviour of 106 white sharks was recorded for 87 days on-board six cage-diving boats in 2012, 2013, and 2014.3. Of the observed sharks, 63% were immature specimens (n = 67) and 37% were considered mature (n = 39). Seventy-one per cent were males (n = 75) and 29% were females (n = 31). 4.Interactions were classified into one of the 11 behaviours: parading, close inspection, horizontal attack, vertical attack, bait catching, feeding, not feeding, buoy catching, encounter, escape, and staying. 5. Parading, close inspections, and horizontal attacks were performed more often by mature males, whereas immature females performed more vertical attacks, with no differences between mature and immature males. 6. A total of 1,542 ethograms were registered. Each ethogram consisted on average of 6.3 ± 5.6 behaviours with a significant transitional pattern from horizontal attacks to parading and close inspections, and from vertical and horizontal attacks to bait being caught. 7. A pattern related to feeding in a simple stimulus response reflex was observed. The shark's length seems to play an important role in the efficiency of the attacks, presumably resulting from the experience of mature individuals. Intentional feeding should be avoided to prevent negative effects related to ecotourism.8. This study constitutes a baseline for future research on white shark behaviour. It can be applied in other regions regardless of environmental conditions, quantity and size of the boats, and types of bait. Using this standard method could improve the monitoring, management, and conservation of this vulnerable species.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The surface behaviour of white sharks during ecotourism: A baseline for monitoring this threatened species around Guadalupe Island, Mexico

Becerril‐García

Hoyos-Padilla

Micarelli³

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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“…Humpback and sperm whales ( Megaptera novaeanglia and Physeter catodon ) communicate over great distances with ‘aerial’ tail-slaps [19]–[21], and a similar surface behaviour was described as an agonistic threat to reduce resource competition among white sharks ( Carcharodon carcharias ) in close proximity to each other [22]–[24], though the behaviour was less interpretable when conducted by bait-attracted individuals [25]. Dolphins ( Delphinus delphis ) control the shape and density of schooling prey fish using their tails [1], and killer whales tail-slap bait balls with such ferocity that they produce sound and shockwaves powerful enough to stun fish [2], [3], [26], [27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thresher Sharks Use Tail-Slaps as a Hunting Strategy

Oliver

Turner

Gann³

et al. 2013

PLoS ONE

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The hunting strategies of pelagic thresher sharks (Alopias pelagicus) were investigated at Pescador Island in the Philippines. It has long been suspected that thresher sharks hunt with their scythe-like tails but the kinematics associated with the behaviour in the wild are poorly understood. From 61 observations recorded by handheld underwater video camera between June and October 2010, 25 thresher shark shunting events were analysed. Thresher sharks employed tail-slaps to debilitate sardines at all times of day. Hunting events comprised preparation, strike, wind-down recovery and prey item collection phases, which occurred sequentially. Preparation phases were significantly longer than the others, presumably to enable a shark to windup a tail-slap. Tail-slaps were initiated by an adduction of the pectoral fins, a manoeuvre that changed a thresher shark's pitch promoting its posterior region to lift rapidly, and stall its approach. Tail-slaps occurred with such force that they may have caused dissolved gas to diffuse out of the water column forming bubbles. Thresher sharks were able to consume more than one sardine at a time, suggesting that tail-slapping is an effective foraging strategy for hunting schooling prey. Pelagic thresher sharks appear to pursue sardines opportunistically by day and night, which may make them vulnerable to fisheries. Alopiids possess specialist pectoral and caudal fins that are likely to have evolved, at least in part, for tail-slapping. The evidence is now clear; thresher sharks really do hunt with their tails.

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An exploration of the population characteristics and behaviours of the white shark in Guadalupe Island, Mexico (2014–2019): Observational data from cage diving vessels

Santana-Morales

Zertuche-Chanes²,

Hoyos-Padilla

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

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1. In the eastern North Pacific, the Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve (GIBR) is one of the most renowned white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) aggregation sites studied to date, and an important tourism activity has been developed in the reserve.2. This study used tourist-based cage diving activities to biologically monitor white sharks from 2014 to 2019 within the GIBR.3. The data indicated a gradual increase in the overall abundance of white sharks with an age-structure shift, as young of the year and juvenile sharks were more prevalent during the latter part of the study period (2016)(2017)(2018)(2019).4. The arrival of young of the year and juvenile white sharks coincided with regional changes in oceanographic conditions off California and Baja California.5. The arrival of adult female white sharks coincided with the seasonal peak in elephant seal abundance.6. Records of high-risk white shark behaviours, a shift to sharks of younger ages, and the high prevalence of small individuals during cage diving activities supports the need for the continued revision of tourism operational protocols.7. This study highlights the importance of white shark biological monitoring to identify threats and challenges to the growing tourism industry and the management of the species in Guadalupe Island and in other aggregation sites.

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Surface behaviour of bait-attracted white sharks at Dyer Island (South Africa)

Cited by 18 publications

References 30 publications

The surface behaviour of white sharks during ecotourism: A baseline for monitoring this threatened species around Guadalupe Island, Mexico

The surface behaviour of white sharks during ecotourism: A baseline for monitoring this threatened species around Guadalupe Island, Mexico

Thresher Sharks Use Tail-Slaps as a Hunting Strategy

An exploration of the population characteristics and behaviours of the white shark in Guadalupe Island, Mexico (2014–2019): Observational data from cage diving vessels

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