Oral Presentation Australian Society of Fish Biology and Oceania Chondrichthyan Society Conference 2016

The ups and downs of the tiger shark – an up-close view of their behaviour (#34)

Samantha Andrzejaczek 1 2 , Adrian C Gleiss 3 , Charitha B Pattiaratchi 1 , Taylor K Chapple 4 , Mark G Meekan 2
  1. IOMRC and UWA Oceans Institute, Ocean Graduate School, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia , Australia
  2. Australian Institute of Marine Science , Crawley, WA, Australia
  3. Centre for Fish and Fisheries, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
  4. Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA

Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) are a keystone predator in the food chains of many tropical reef systems worldwide. Recently, cameras deployed on these sharks have provided new insights into their behaviour, including feeding on a wide variety of prey species and continuous cycles of ascent and descent through the water column. Here, we deployed CATS camera and diary tags on tiger sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia in order to investigate hunting strategies and the drivers of movement patterns. These tags were clamped to the dorsal fin and recorded both physical parameters such as depth and temperature, and, through the use of accelerometers, in situ measurements of animal trajectory and locomotion, which enabled calculation of dive geometry and swimming energetics. These data were compared with behaviours recorded simultaneously by video cameras. To date, our tags have recorded a number of predator-prey interactions, swimming strategies as well as recovery from the process of tag application. Our data have demonstrated the suitability and effectiveness of these tags as a means to link the processes of locomotion and behaviour of these animals.