Broad-scale coastal movements of white sharks off Western Australia described by passive acoustic telemetry data
R. B. McAuley A D , B. D. Bruce B , I. S. Keay A , S. Mountford A , T. Pinnell A and F. G. Whoriskey C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Fisheries, Government of Western Australia WA Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, PO Box 20, North Beach, WA 6920, Australia.
B CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Research, Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Tas. 7004, Australia.
C Ocean Tracking Network Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Road, PO Box 15 000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
D Corresponding author. Email: rory.mcauley@fish.wa.gov.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 68(8) 1518-1531 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF16222
Submitted: 20 June 2016 Accepted: 19 January 2017 Published: 17 March 2017
Abstract
Movements of 89 acoustically tagged subadult and adult white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) were monitored off the south and west coasts of Western Australia (WA) between December 2008 and May 2016 by a network of up to 343 passive acoustic receivers. In all, 290 inter-regional movements, totalling 185 092 km were recorded for 73 of these sharks. Estimated rates of movement in excess of 3 km h–1 (mean 1.7 km h–1; maximum 5.6 km h–1) were common, even over distances of thousands of kilometres. Detections indicated that white sharks may be present off most of the south and lower west coasts of WA throughout the year, although they are more likely to be encountered during spring and early summer and are least likely to be present during late summer and autumn. There was limited evidence of predictable return behaviour, seasonal movement patterns or coordination of the direction and timing of individual shark’s movements. Nevertheless, the data suggest that further analyses of movements in relation to ecological factors may be useful predictors of shark activity at local scales. It is hoped that these data may be useful for informing public safety initiatives aimed at mitigating the risks associated with human encounters with white sharks off the WA coast.
References
Ames, J. A., Geibel, J. J., Wendell, F. E., and Pattison, C. A. (1996). White shark-inflicted wounds on sea otters in California, 1968–1992. In ‘Great White Sharks: The Biology of Carcharadon carcharias’. (Eds A. P. Klimley and D. G. Ainley.) pp. 309–316. (Academic Press: San Diego, CA, USA.)Anderson, S. D., and Pyle, P. (2003). A temporal, sex specific occurrence pattern among white sharks at the South Farallon Islands, California. California Fish and Game 89, 96–101.
Australian Shark Attack File (2015). Australian shark attack file annual report. Annual report summary for 2015. (Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Sydney. NEW, Australia.) Available at https://taronga.org.au/conservation/conservation-science-research/australian-shark-attack-file/2015 [Verified 17 February 2017].
Blower, D. C., Pandolfi, J. M., Bruce, B. D., Gomez-Cabrera, M. D., and Ovenden, J. R. (2012). Population genetics of Australian white sharks reveals fine-scale spatial structure, transoceanic dispersal events and low effective population sizes. Marine Ecology Progress Series 455, 229–244.
| Population genetics of Australian white sharks reveals fine-scale spatial structure, transoceanic dispersal events and low effective population sizes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38Xht1Sht77I&md5=7e268e43c87f1d6541ffb5acb6822c65CAS |
Bonfil, R. M., Meÿer, M., Scholl, M. C., Johnson, R., O’Brien, S., Oosthuizen, H., Swanson, S., Kotze, D., and Paterson, M. (2005). Transoceanic migration, spatial dynamics, and population linkages of white sharks. Science 310, 100–103.
| Transoceanic migration, spatial dynamics, and population linkages of white sharks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXhtVOjsr7N&md5=ac0634840c08b309fafcd7e399b4c41fCAS |
Boustany, A. M., Davis, S. F., Pyle, P., Anderson, S. D., Le Boeuf, B. J., and Block, B. A. (2002). Expanded niche for white sharks. Nature 415, 35–36.
| Expanded niche for white sharks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xkt1Kjtg%3D%3D&md5=b12d65d8fb8abd92408abbc397bd8964CAS |
Bradford, R. W., Bruce, B. D., McAuley, R. B., and Robinson, G. (2011). An evaluation of passive acoustic monitoring using satellite communication technology for near real-time detection of tagged animals in a marine setting. The Open Fish Science Journal 4, 10–20.
| An evaluation of passive acoustic monitoring using satellite communication technology for near real-time detection of tagged animals in a marine setting.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bruce, B. D. (1992). Preliminary observations on the biology of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, in South Australian waters. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43, 1–11.
| Preliminary observations on the biology of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, in South Australian waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bruce, B. D. (2008). White sharks: the biology and ecology of Carcharodon carcharias. In ‘Sharks of the Open Ocean’. (Eds. E. Pikitch and M. Camhi.) pp. 69–81. (Blackwell Publishing: Oxford, UK.)
Bruce, B. D., and Bradford, R. W. (2011). The effects of berleying on the distribution and behaviour of white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, at the Neptune Islands, South Australia. Final report to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, South Australia. CSIRO, Hobart, Tas., Australia.
Bruce, B. D., and Bradford, R. W. (2012). Habitat use and spatial dynamics of juvenile white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias. In ‘Global Perspectives on the Biology and Life History of the White Shark’. (Ed. M. Domeier.) pp. 225–253. (CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA.)
Bruce, B. D., and Bradford, R. W. (2015). Segregation or aggregation? Sex-specific patterns in the seasonal occurrence of white sharks at the Neptune Islands, South Australia. Journal of Fish Biology 87, 1355–1370.
| Segregation or aggregation? Sex-specific patterns in the seasonal occurrence of white sharks at the Neptune Islands, South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC28rlt1Kitw%3D%3D&md5=8496c43622a228ad46ce96f43d13db77CAS |
Bruce, B., and Stevens, J. (2004). Tracking the movement patterns of large white sharks in Australian waters. Final report to AQWA, the Aquarium of Western Australia and the AQWA Research Foundation, CSIRO Marine Research, Hobart, Tas., Australia.
Bruce, B. D., Stevens, J. D., and Bradford, R. W. (2005a). Identifying movements and habitats of white sharks and grey nurse sharks. Final report to Department of Environment and Heritage, CSIRO, Hobart, Tas., Australia.
Bruce, B. D., Stevens, J. D., and Bradford, R. W. (2005b). Site fidelity, residence times and home range patterns of white sharks around pinniped colonies. Final report to Department of Environment and Heritage, CSIRO, Hobart, Tas., Australia.
Bruce, B. J., Stevens, J. D., and Malcolm, H. (2006). Movements and swimming behaviour of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in Australian waters. Marine Biology 150, 161–172.
| Movements and swimming behaviour of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in Australian waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Campbell, R., Holley, D. A., Collins, P., and Armstrong, S. (2014). Changes in the abundance and distribution of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) in Western Australia: are they approaching carrying capacity? Australian Journal of Zoology 62, 261–267.
| Changes in the abundance and distribution of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) in Western Australia: are they approaching carrying capacity?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carey, F. G., Casey, J. G., Pratt, H. L., Urquhart, D., and McCosker, J. E. (1985). Temperature, heat production and heat exchange in lamnid sharks. Memoirs of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 9, 92–108.
Casey, J. G., and Pratt, H. L. (1985). Distribution of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, in the western North Atlantic. Memoirs of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 9, 2–14.
Cliff, G., Dudley, S. F. J., and Fry, M. R. (1996). Catches of white sharks in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and environmental influences. In ‘Great White Sharks: The Biology of Carcharadon carcharias’. (Eds A. P. Klimley and D. G. Ainley.) pp. 351–362. (Academic Press: San Diego, CA, USA.)
Compagno, L. J. V. (2001). ‘Sharks of the World. An Annotated and Illustrated Guide of the shark species known to date. Volume 2. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes).’ FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Rome, Italy.)
Curtis, T., Kelly, J. T., Menard, K. L., Laroche, R. K., Jones, R. E., and Klimley, A. P. (2006). Observations on the behaviour of white sharks scavenging from a whale carcass at Point Reyes, California. California Fish and Game 92, 113–124.
Department of Fisheries, Government of Western Australia (2012). A correlation study of the potential risk factors associated with white shark attacks in Western Australian waters November 2012. Fisheries Occasional Publication number 109, Department of Fisheries, Perth, WA, Australia.
Dicken, M. L. (2008). First observations of young of the year and juvenile great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) scavenging from a whale carcass. Marine and Freshwater Research 59, 596–602.
| First observations of young of the year and juvenile great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) scavenging from a whale carcass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Domeier, M. L., and Nasby-Lucas, N. (2008). Migration patterns of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias tagged at Guadalupe Island, Mexico, and identification of an eastern Pacific shared offshore foraging area. Marine Ecology Progress Series 370, 221–237.
| Migration patterns of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias tagged at Guadalupe Island, Mexico, and identification of an eastern Pacific shared offshore foraging area.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Domeier, M. L., Nasby-Lucas, N., and Lam, C. H. (2012). Fine-scale habitat use by white sharks at Guadalupe Island, Mexico. In ‘Global Perspectives on the Biology and Life History of the White Shark’. (Ed. M. Domeier.) pp. 121–132. (CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA.)
Duffy, C., Francis, M., Manning, M., and Bonfil, R. (2012). Regional population connectivity, oceanic habitat, and return migration revealed by satellite tagging of white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, at New Zealand aggregation sites. In ‘Global Perspectives on the Biology and Life History of the White Shark’. (Ed. M. Domeier.) pp. 301–318. (CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA.)
Estrada, J. A., Rice, A. N., Natanson, L. J., and Skomal, G. B. (2006). Use of isotopic analysis of vertebrae in reconstructing ontogenetic feeding ecology in white sharks. Ecology 87, 829–834.
| Use of isotopic analysis of vertebrae in reconstructing ontogenetic feeding ecology in white sharks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fairclough, D. V., Molony, B. W., Crisafulli, B. M., Keay, I. S., Hesp, S. A., and Marriott, R. J. (2014). Status of demersal finfish stocks on the west coast of Australia. Fisheries Research Report number 253, Department of Fisheries, Perth, WA, Australia.
Fergusson, I. K., Compagno, L. J. V., and Marks, M. A. (2000). Predation by white sharks Carcharodon carcharias (Chondrichthyes: Lamnidae) upon chelonians, with new records from the Mediterranean Sea and a first record of the ocean sunfish Mola mola (Osteichthyes: Molidae) as stomach contents. Environmental Biology of Fishes 58, 447–453.
| Predation by white sharks Carcharodon carcharias (Chondrichthyes: Lamnidae) upon chelonians, with new records from the Mediterranean Sea and a first record of the ocean sunfish Mola mola (Osteichthyes: Molidae) as stomach contents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Francis, B. (2011). Before and after Jaws: changing representations of shark attacks. B.A.(History)(Hons) thesis, Murdoch University, WA, Australia.
Francis, M. P., Duffy, C., and Lyon, W. (2015). Spatial and temporal habitat use by white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at an aggregation site in southern New Zealand. Marine and Freshwater Research 66, 900–918.
| Spatial and temporal habitat use by white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at an aggregation site in southern New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Goldman, K. J., and Anderson, S. D. (1999). Space utilization and swimming depth of white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, at the South Farallon Islands, central California. Environmental Biology of Fishes 56, 351–364.
| Space utilization and swimming depth of white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, at the South Farallon Islands, central California.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Heupel, M. R., and Hueter, R. E. (2001). Use of a remote acoustic telemetry system to monitor shark movements in a coastal nursery area. In ‘Electronic Tagging and Tracking in Marine Fisheries’. (Eds J. R. Sibert and J. L. Nielsen.) pp. 217–236. (Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, Netherlands.)
Huveneers, C., Rogers, P. J., and Drew, M. (2014). Monitoring shark species of conservation concern within the Adelaide metropolitan and Gulf St Vincent regions. Final Report to the Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board, SARDI Publication number F2013/000716-1, SARDI Research Report Series number 754, South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Jenner, K. C. S., Jenner, M.-N. M., and McCabe, K. A. (2001). Geographical and temporal movements of humpback whales in Western Australian waters. APPEA Journal 2001, 749–765.
Kent, C. S., Jenner, C., Jenner, M., Bouchet, P., and Rexstad, E. (2012). Southern hemisphere breeding stock D humpback whale population estimates from North West Cape, Western Australia. The Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 12, 29–38.
Kim, S. L., Tinker, M. T., Estes, J. A., and Koch, P. L. (2012). Ontogenetic and among-individual variation in foraging strategies of northeast Pacific white sharks based on stable isotope analysis. PLoS One 7, e45068.
| Ontogenetic and among-individual variation in foraging strategies of northeast Pacific white sharks based on stable isotope analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhsFShs7rO&md5=bdeb72891c37b52d2f540d8c7555d199CAS |
Klimley, A. P. (1985). The areal distribution and autoecology of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, off the west coast of North America. Memoirs of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 9, 15–40.
Kock, A., O’Riain, M. J., Mauff, K., Meÿer, M., Kotze, D., and Griffiths, C. (2013). Residency, habitat use and sexual segregation of white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias in False Bay, South Africa. PLoS One 8, e55048.
| Residency, habitat use and sexual segregation of white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias in False Bay, South Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXisVeltLs%3D&md5=e01e538709471d698bc31c76c869c16aCAS |
Last, P. R., and Stevens, J. D. (2009). ‘Sharks and Rays of Australia’. 2nd edn. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)
Malcolm, H., Bruce, B. D., and Stevens, J. D. (2001). ‘A Review of the Biology and Status of White Sharks in Australian Waters. (CSIRO Marine Research: Hobart, Tas., Australia.)
McAuley, R., Bruce, B., Keay, I., Mountford, S., and Pinnell, T. (2016). Evaluation of passive acoustic telemetry approaches for monitoring and mitigating shark hazards off the coast of Western Australia, Western Australia. Fisheries Research Report number 273, Department of Fisheries, Perth, WA, Australia.
Neff, C. (2012). Australian beach safety and the politics of shark attacks. Coastal Management 40, 88–106.
| Australian beach safety and the politics of shark attacks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Neff, C. L., and Yang, J. Y. H. (2013). Shark bites and public attitudes: policy implications from the first before and after shark bite survey. Marine Policy 38, 545–547.
| Shark bites and public attitudes: policy implications from the first before and after shark bite survey.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Paterson, R. A. (1990). Effects of long-term anti-shark measures on target and non-target species in Queensland, Australia. Biological Conservation 52, 147–159.
| Effects of long-term anti-shark measures on target and non-target species in Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robbins, R. L. (2007). Environmental variables affecting the sexual segregation of great white sharks Carcharodon carcharias at the Neptune Islands South Australia. Journal of Fish Biology 70, 1350–1364.
| Environmental variables affecting the sexual segregation of great white sharks Carcharodon carcharias at the Neptune Islands South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robbins, R., and Booth, D. (2012). Seasonal, sexual and size segregation of white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, at the Neptune Islands, South Australia. In ‘Global Perspectives on the Biology and Life History of the White Shark’. (Ed. M. Domeier.) pp. 287–299. (CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA.)
Rogers, P. J., and Huveneers, C. (2016). Residency and photographic identification of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias in the Neptune Islands Group Marine Park between 2013 and 2015. Report to the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, SARDI Publication number F2015/000825-1, SARDI Research Report Series number 893, South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Rogers, P. J., Huveneers, C., and Beckmann, C. (2014). Monitoring residency of white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias in relation to the cage-diving industry in the Neptune Islands Group Marine Park. SARDI Publication number F2014/000800-1, SARDI Research Report Series number 818, South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Santana-Morales, O., Sosa-Nishizaki, O., Escobedo-Olvera, M., Onate-Gonzalez, E., O’Sullivan, J., and Cartamil, D. (2012). Incidental catch and ecological observations of juvenile white sharks, Carcharadon carcharias, in western Baja California, Mexico. Conservation implications. In ‘Global Perspectives on the Biology and Life History of the White Shark’. (Ed. M. Domeier.) pp. 187–198. (CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA.)
Sims, D. W., Humphries, N. E., Bradford, R. W., and Bruce, B. D. (2012). Levy flight and Brownian search patterns of white sharks in response to different prey fields. Journal of Animal Ecology 81, 432–442.
| Levy flight and Brownian search patterns of white sharks in response to different prey fields.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Skomal, G. B., Chisholm, J., and Correai, S. (2012). Implications of increasing pinniped populations on the diet and abundance of white sharks off the coast of Massachusetts. In ‘Global Perspectives on the Biology and Life History of the White Shark’. (Ed. M. Domeier.) pp. 405–418. (CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA.)
Sprivulis, P. C. (2014). Western Australia coastal shark bites: a risk assessment. The Australasian Medical Journal 7, 137–142.
| Western Australia coastal shark bites: a risk assessment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Strong, W. R., Murphy, R. C., Bruce, B. D., and Nelson, D. R. (1992). Movements and associated observations of bait-attracted white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias: a preliminary report. Marine and Freshwater Research 43, 13–20.
| Movements and associated observations of bait-attracted white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias: a preliminary report.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weng, K., and Honebrink, R. (2013). Occurrence of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in Hawaiian waters. Journal of Marine Biology 2013, 598745.
| Occurrence of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in Hawaiian waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weng, K. C., Boustany, A. M., Pyle, P., Anderson, S. D., Brown, A., and Block, B. A. (2007). Migration and habitat of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Marine Biology 152, 877–894.
| Migration and habitat of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in the eastern Pacific Ocean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
West, J. G. (1993). The Australian Shark Attack File with notes on preliminary analysis of data from Australian waters. In ‘Shark Conservation’. (Eds J. Pepperell, P. Woon, and J. West.) pp. 93–101. (Taronga Zoo: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)
West, J. G. (2011). Changing patterns of shark attacks in Australian waters. Marine and Freshwater Research 62, 744–754.
| Changing patterns of shark attacks in Australian waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXnvFantbY%3D&md5=425977ee46a071077978fe1ac53a6ea8CAS |
