Regional movement patterns of a small-bodied shark revealed by stable-isotope analysis

Munroe, S.E.M., Heupel, M.R., Fisk, A.T., Logan, M., and Simpfendorfer, C.A. (2015) Regional movement patterns of a small-bodied shark revealed by stable-isotope analysis. Journal of Fish Biology, 86 (5). pp. 1567-1586.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12660
 
13
1


Abstract

This study used stable-isotope analysis to define the nearshore regional residency and movements of the small-bodied Australian sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon taylori. Plasma and muscle C-13 and N-15 of R. taylori were collected from across five embayments and compared with values of seagrass and plankton from each bay. Linear distances between adjacent bays ranged from 30 to 150 km. There was a positive geographic correlation between R. taylori tissue and environmental C-13 values. Populations with the highest tissue N-15 were collected from bays that had the highest environmental N-15 values. These results suggest that R. taylori did not forage more than 100 km away from their capture location within 6 months to 1 year. The successful application of isotope analysis to define R. taylori movement demonstrates that this technique may be used in addition to traditional methods to study the movement of sharks, even within similar habitats across regionally small spatial scales (<100 km).

Item ID: 41779
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1095-8649
Keywords: habitat connectivity, migration, residency, Rhizoprionodon taylori, seagrass
Funders: National Environmental Research Program (NERP), AIMS@JCU, James Cook University (JCU), Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), Joyce Vickery Scientific Research Fund
Date Deposited: 08 Dec 2015 17:46
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 70%
07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0704 Fisheries Sciences > 070402 Aquatic Ecosystem Studies and Stock Assessment @ 30%
SEO Codes: 83 ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 8302 Fisheries - Wild Caught > 830204 Wild Caught Fin Fish (excl. Tuna) @ 30%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960507 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Marine Environments @ 70%
Downloads: Total: 1
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page