Transoceanic migration, spatial dynamics, and population linkages of white sharks.
The large-scale spatial dynamics and population structure of marine top predators are poorly known. We present electronic tag and photographic identification data showing a complex suite of behavioral patterns in white sharks. These include coastal return migrations and the fastest known transoceanic return migration among swimming fauna, which provide direct evidence of a link between widely separated populations in South Africa and Australia. Transoceanic return migration involved a return to the original capture location, dives to depths of 980 meters, and the tolerance of water temperatures as low as 3.4 degrees C. These findings contradict previous ideas that female white sharks do not make transoceanic migrations, and they suggest natal homing behavior.
Bonfil
Ramón
R
Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, USA. rbonfil@wcs.org
Meÿer
Michael
M
Scholl
Michael C
MC
Johnson
Ryan
R
O'Brien
Shannon
S
Oosthuizen
Herman
H
Swanson
Stephan
S
Kotze
Deon
D
Paterson
Michael
M
D000823:Animal Identification Systems; D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006702:Homing Behavior; D019156:Indian Ocean; D008297:Male; D011157:Population Dynamics; D017215:Satellite Communications; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012754:Sharks / Q000502:physiology*; D013019:South Africa; D013550:Swimming; D013696:Temperature