Links between the three-dimensional movements of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and the bio-physical environment off a coral reef
Abstract Background Measuring coastal-pelagic prey fields at scales relevant to the movements of marine predators is challenging due to the dynamic and ephemeral nature of these environments. Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are thought to aggregate in nearshore tropical waters due to seasonally enhan...
| मुख्य लेखकों: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| स्वरूप: | लेख |
| भाषा: | English |
| प्रकाशित: |
BMC
2024-01-01
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| श्रृंखला: | Movement Ecology |
| विषय: | |
| ऑनलाइन पहुंच: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-024-00452-2 |
| _version_ | 1827325769326526464 |
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| author | Ben D’Antonio Luciana C. Ferreira Mark Meekan Paul G. Thomson Lilian Lieber Patti Virtue Chloe Power Charitha B. Pattiaratchi Andrew S. Brierley Ana M. M. Sequeira Michele Thums |
| author_facet | Ben D’Antonio Luciana C. Ferreira Mark Meekan Paul G. Thomson Lilian Lieber Patti Virtue Chloe Power Charitha B. Pattiaratchi Andrew S. Brierley Ana M. M. Sequeira Michele Thums |
| author_sort | Ben D’Antonio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Measuring coastal-pelagic prey fields at scales relevant to the movements of marine predators is challenging due to the dynamic and ephemeral nature of these environments. Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are thought to aggregate in nearshore tropical waters due to seasonally enhanced foraging opportunities. This implies that the three-dimensional movements of these animals may be associated with bio-physical properties that enhance prey availability. To date, few studies have tested this hypothesis. Methods Here, we conducted ship-based acoustic surveys, net tows and water column profiling (salinity, temperature, chlorophyll fluorescence) to determine the volumetric density, distribution and community composition of mesozooplankton (predominantly euphausiids and copepods) and oceanographic properties of the water column in the vicinity of whale sharks that were tracked simultaneously using satellite-linked tags at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Generalised linear mixed effect models were used to explore relationships between the 3-dimensional movement behaviours of tracked sharks and surrounding prey fields at a spatial scale of ~ 1 km. Results We identified prey density as a significant driver of horizontal space use, with sharks occupying areas along the reef edge where densities were highest. These areas were characterised by complex bathymetry such as reef gutters and pinnacles. Temperature and salinity profiles revealed a well-mixed water column above the height of the bathymetry (top 40 m of the water column). Regions of stronger stratification were associated with reef gutters and pinnacles that concentrated prey near the seabed, and entrained productivity at local scales (~ 1 km). We found no quantitative relationship between the depth use of sharks and vertical distributions of horizontally averaged prey density. Whale sharks repeatedly dove to depths where spatially averaged prey concentration was highest but did not extend the time spent at these depth layers. Conclusions Our work reveals previously unrecognized complexity in interactions between whale sharks and their zooplankton prey. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:34:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99a3ad5ea5a74bce9d182aa9e1c4dba7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2051-3933 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:34:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Movement Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-99a3ad5ea5a74bce9d182aa9e1c4dba72024-03-05T20:43:12ZengBMCMovement Ecology2051-39332024-01-0112111810.1186/s40462-024-00452-2Links between the three-dimensional movements of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and the bio-physical environment off a coral reefBen D’Antonio0Luciana C. Ferreira1Mark Meekan2Paul G. Thomson3Lilian Lieber4Patti Virtue5Chloe Power6Charitha B. Pattiaratchi7Andrew S. Brierley8Ana M. M. Sequeira9Michele Thums10Oceans Graduate School and the UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western AustraliaAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, University of Western AustraliaThe Oceans Institute, University of Western AustraliaOceans Graduate School and the UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western AustraliaMarine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel HillInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of TasmaniaInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of TasmaniaOceans Graduate School and the UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western AustraliaPelagic Ecology Research Group, Scottish Oceans Institute, Gatty Marine Laboratory, School of Biology, University of St. AndrewsThe Oceans Institute, University of Western AustraliaAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, University of Western AustraliaAbstract Background Measuring coastal-pelagic prey fields at scales relevant to the movements of marine predators is challenging due to the dynamic and ephemeral nature of these environments. Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are thought to aggregate in nearshore tropical waters due to seasonally enhanced foraging opportunities. This implies that the three-dimensional movements of these animals may be associated with bio-physical properties that enhance prey availability. To date, few studies have tested this hypothesis. Methods Here, we conducted ship-based acoustic surveys, net tows and water column profiling (salinity, temperature, chlorophyll fluorescence) to determine the volumetric density, distribution and community composition of mesozooplankton (predominantly euphausiids and copepods) and oceanographic properties of the water column in the vicinity of whale sharks that were tracked simultaneously using satellite-linked tags at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Generalised linear mixed effect models were used to explore relationships between the 3-dimensional movement behaviours of tracked sharks and surrounding prey fields at a spatial scale of ~ 1 km. Results We identified prey density as a significant driver of horizontal space use, with sharks occupying areas along the reef edge where densities were highest. These areas were characterised by complex bathymetry such as reef gutters and pinnacles. Temperature and salinity profiles revealed a well-mixed water column above the height of the bathymetry (top 40 m of the water column). Regions of stronger stratification were associated with reef gutters and pinnacles that concentrated prey near the seabed, and entrained productivity at local scales (~ 1 km). We found no quantitative relationship between the depth use of sharks and vertical distributions of horizontally averaged prey density. Whale sharks repeatedly dove to depths where spatially averaged prey concentration was highest but did not extend the time spent at these depth layers. Conclusions Our work reveals previously unrecognized complexity in interactions between whale sharks and their zooplankton prey.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-024-00452-2Marine megafaunaPredator–preyForaging ecologyBio-physical driversZooplanktonHabitat use |
| spellingShingle | Ben D’Antonio Luciana C. Ferreira Mark Meekan Paul G. Thomson Lilian Lieber Patti Virtue Chloe Power Charitha B. Pattiaratchi Andrew S. Brierley Ana M. M. Sequeira Michele Thums Links between the three-dimensional movements of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and the bio-physical environment off a coral reef Movement Ecology Marine megafauna Predator–prey Foraging ecology Bio-physical drivers Zooplankton Habitat use |
| title | Links between the three-dimensional movements of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and the bio-physical environment off a coral reef |
| title_full | Links between the three-dimensional movements of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and the bio-physical environment off a coral reef |
| title_fullStr | Links between the three-dimensional movements of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and the bio-physical environment off a coral reef |
| title_full_unstemmed | Links between the three-dimensional movements of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and the bio-physical environment off a coral reef |
| title_short | Links between the three-dimensional movements of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and the bio-physical environment off a coral reef |
| title_sort | links between the three dimensional movements of whale sharks rhincodon typus and the bio physical environment off a coral reef |
| topic | Marine megafauna Predator–prey Foraging ecology Bio-physical drivers Zooplankton Habitat use |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-024-00452-2 |
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