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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 59(4)

Multi-year validation of photographic identification of grey nurse sharks, Carcharias taurus, and applications for non-invasive conservation research

Carley S. Bansemer A B and Mike B. Bennett A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: s3339916@student.uq.edu.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 59(4) 322-331 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF07184
Submitted: 12 October 2007  Accepted: 28 February 2008   Published: 15 May 2008

Abstract

Captive and wild Carcharias taurus were used to assess whether spots present on their flanks were suitable as natural tags for individual shark recognition. Photographic images of seven captive sharks taken at monthly intervals for 14 months and at 3 years after the start of the study indicated that spot numbers, positions and sizes did not change. Eighty-nine wild sharks were photographically re-captured at least once subsequent to their initial image-capture; fourteen were re-photographed at least 23 months subsequent to their initial image-capture and a single individual after 14 years. Unique physical marks (e.g. partial fin loss) on six wild sharks were used to validate the pattern recognition process by providing unambiguous identification of individuals independently of their spots. Preliminary visual identification data on the eastern Australian C. taurus population show how spatial and temporal information on individual sharks can be collected without recourse to conventional tagging to address key questions about this species’ ecology and population biology.

Additional keywords: natural marks, photo-identification, spot, tag.


Acknowledgements

We thank Professor A. Boulton and two reviewers for their constructive and helpful comments. We thank A. Kilpatrick, all the UWW crew, D. Harasti, N. Marsh, K. Holzheimer, A. Nel, K. and C. Phillips, A. Walsh, J. Foster and the numerous other volunteers for their support, field assistance and images of C. taurus. We thank B. Bruce for his support and feedback on earlier drafts. Underwater World (Mooloolaba), Seaworld (Gold Coast) and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service supplied prizes to providers of shark images. Financial support was provided by the Department for the Environment and Heritage, the Queensland Government PhD Smart State Initiative and the Hermon Slade Foundation. In-kind support was provided by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service – Moreton Bay District, Underwater World (Mooloolaba), Sea World (Gold Coast) and the Queensland Museum. This research was conducted in accordance with University of Queensland Animal Ethics Approval SBMS/196/04/DEH, SBMS/228/05/DEH, SBMS/560/06/DEH and SBS/640/07/HSF.


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