Reef-use and residency patterns of a baited population of silky sharks, Carcharhinus falciformis, in the Red Sea
C. Clarke A B , J. S. E. Lea A C F and R. F. G. Ormond A D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Danah Divers Marine Research Facility, Beach Palace, P.O. Box 10646, Jeddah, 21443, Saudi Arabia.
B University of London Marine Biological Station, Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, Scotland, KA28 0EG, UK.
C University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK.
D Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK.
E Save Our Seas Foundation, 5/6 Lang Rigg, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, EH30 9WN, UK.
F Corresponding author. Email: james.lea@plymouth.ac.uk
Marine and Freshwater Research 62(6) 668-675 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF10171
Submitted: 24 June 2010 Accepted: 11 January 2011 Published: 24 June 2011
Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2011 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Many shark populations are experiencing critical declines from overfishing, triggering potentially detrimental cascade effects on marine ecosystems. Silky sharks, Carcharhinus falciformis, have experienced some of the most severe declines, yet little information exists on their behavioural ecology to inform management decisions. In the present study, the movement patterns of a sexually segregated subpopulation of female silky sharks on reefs in the Central Red Sea were investigated using acoustic telemetry to characterise habitat-use and residency patterns. Frequent baiting of sharks at a particular reef-site significantly increased time spent in the vicinity, although no increases in use of other reef areas 5–10 and 50–60 km away were recorded, and regular use of all three reef areas persisted in the absence of bait. Observed residency patterns varied considerably, from being present almost year-round to visiting only intermittently. The sharks spent significantly longer times at study reefs during daylight hours, even within bait-free regions, suggesting the diel bias is normal. This pattern became less distinct nearer the full moon when there is more ambient light. The regular, perennial use of these reefs by mature and near-mature female silky sharks highlights the importance of this habitat in the Red Sea for recruitment into the local shark population.
Additional keywords: acoustic telemetry, Indian Ocean region, provisioning, reef sharks.
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