Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T13:02:45.410Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Use of an acceleration data logger to measure diel activity patterns in captive whitetip reef sharks, Triaenodon obesus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 January 2008

Nicholas M. Whitney ,
Yannis P. Papastamatiou ,
Kim N. Holland  and
Christopher G. Lowe
Nicholas M. Whitney
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, 2538 The Mall, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, PO Box 1346, Coconut Island, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA
Yannis P. Papastamatiou
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, 2538 The Mall, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, PO Box 1346, Coconut Island, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA
Kim N. Holland
Affiliation:
Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, PO Box 1346, Coconut Island, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA
Christopher G. Lowe
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840, USA
Get access

Abstract

Traditional telemetry methods have been used to quantify the horizontal and vertical displacement of marine species, but are unable to identify specific physical activities such as swimming or gliding, resting, foraging, or spawning. We tested the utility of an acceleration data logger to quantify activity patterns of three captive whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus) in an enclosed lagoon using internal and external attachment methods. Data obtained using both attachment methods allowed swimming and resting behavior to be differentiated. All sharks showed constant swimming for 5–14 hours post-tagging before adopting a pattern of daytime rest and nocturnal activity throughout the 6–16 day deployments. Sharks showed a diel activity pattern, spending 10–24% of their time swimming during the day, and 42–67% swimming at night. Overall, sharks spent an average of 35 ± 11% (mean ± SD) of their time swimming. Mean tailbeat frequency was found to be 0.89 ± 0.03 beats s−1 in one shark for which it was measured. Respirometry experiments that measured the metabolic rate of two neonate whitetips showed significantly higher metabolic rates at night compared to the day. When taken in conjunction with the acceleration data, these results suggest that whitetips are nocturnally active and show diel circadian rhythms shortly after birth. Our study demonstrates that acceleration data loggers can be used to quantify activity patterns and offer promise for quantifying energy budgets of various reef sharks both in captivity and in the field.

Keywords

AccelerometerRespirometryDiel cyclesElasmobranch
Type
Research Article
Information
Aquatic Living Resources , Volume 20 , Issue 4: Fish Aggregating Devices as Instrumented Observatories of Pelagic Ecosystems , October 2007 , pp. 299 - 305
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD, 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bushnell, P.G., Lutz, P.L., Gruber, S.H., 1989, The metabolic rate of an active, tropical elasmobranch, the lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris). Exp. Biol. 48, 279-283.
Carlson J.K., Goldman K.J., Lowe C.G., 2004, Metabolism, energetic demand, and endothermy. In: Carrier J.C., Musick J.A., Heithaus M.R. (Eds.), Biology of sharks and their relatives, vol. 10, Boca Raton: CRC Press, pp. 269-286.
Chatfield C., 1996, The analysis of time series: an introduction, Fifth edition. Chapman & Hall, Boca Raton.
Cortes, E., 1999, Standardized diet compositions and trophic levels of sharks. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 56, 707-717. CrossRef
Finstad, W.O., Nelson, D.R., 1975, Circadian activity rhythm in the horn shark, Heterodontus francisci: effect of light intensity. Bull. South.Calif. Acad. Sci. 74, 20-26.
Fournier R.W., 1996, The metabolic rates of two species of benthic elasmobranchs, nurse sharks and southern stingrays. M.S. thesis, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY.
Green, J.A., Butler, P.J., Woakes, A.J., Boyd, I.L., 2002, Energy requirements of female Macaroni Penguins breeding in South Georgia. Funct. Ecol. 16, 671-681. CrossRef
Hobson, E.S., 1972, Activity of Hawaiian reef fishes during the evening and morning transitions between daylight and darkness. US Fish. Bull. 70, 715-740.
Kitchell, J.F., Essington, T.E., Boggs, C.H., Schindler, D.E., Walters, C.J., 2002, The role of sharks and longline fisheries in a pelagic ecosystem of the central Pacific. Ecosystems 5, 202-216. CrossRef
Lowe, C.G., 1996, Kinematics and critical swimming speed of juvenile scalloped hammerhead sharks. J. Exp. Biol. 199, 2605-2610.
Lowe, C.G., 2001, Metabolic rates of juvenile scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). Mar. Biol. 139, 447-453. CrossRef
Lowe, C.G., 2002, Bioenergetics of free-ranging scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, HI. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 278, 141-156. CrossRef
Lowe, C.G., Bray. R.N., 2006, Fish movement and activity patterns. In: Allen L.G., Horn M.H., Pondella D.J. (Eds.). The Ecology of California Marine Fishes. University of California Press: Berkeley.
Lowe, C.G., Goldman, K.J., 2001, Thermal and bioenergetics of elasmobranchs: bridging the gap. Environ. Biol. Fishes 60, 251-266 CrossRef
Lowe, C.G., Holland, K.N., Wolcott, T.G., 1998, A new acoustic tailbeat transmitter for fishes. Fish. Res. 36, 275-283 CrossRef
Nelson, D.R., Johnson, R.H., 1970, Diel activity rhythms in the nocturnal, bottom-dwelling sharks, Heterodontus francisci and Cephaloscyllium ventriosum. Copeia 1970, 732-739. CrossRef
Nelson, D.R., Johnson, R.H., 1980, Behavior of reef sharks of Rangiroa, French Polynesia. Nat. Geogr. Soc. Res. Rep. 12, 479-499.
Papastamatiou, Y.P., Meyer, C.G., Holland, K.N., 2007a, A new acoustic pH transmitter for studying the feeding habits of free-ranging sharks. Aquat. Living Resour. 20, 287–290. CrossRef
Papastamatiou, Y.P., Purkis, S.J., Holland, K.N., 2007b, The response of gastric pH and motility to feeding and fasting in free-swimming blacktip reef sharks, Carcharhinus melanopterus. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 345, 129-140. CrossRef
Pratt, H.J Jr., Carrier, J.C., 2001, A review of elasmobranch reproductive behavior with a case study on the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum. Environ. Biol. Fishes 60, 157-188. CrossRef
Randall, J.E., 1977, Contribution to the biology of the whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus). Pac. Sci. 31, 143-164.
Schindler, D.E., Essington, T.E., Kitchell, J.F., Boggs, C.H., Hilborn, R., 2002, Sharks and tunas: fisheries impacts on predators with contrasting life histories. Ecol. Appl. 12, 735-748. CrossRef
Sundström L.F., Gruber S.H., 1998, Using speed sensing transmitters to model the bioenergetics of subadult lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris (Poey), in the field. Hydrobiologia 371/372, 241–247
Sundström, L.F., Gruber, S.H., Clermont, S.M., Correia, J.P.S., deMarignac, J.R.C., Morrissey, J.F., Lowrance, C.R., Thomassen, L., Oliveira, M.T., 2001, Review of elasmobranch behavioral studies using ultrasonic telemetry with special reference to the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris, around Bimini Islands, Bahamas. Environ. Biol. Fishes 60, 225-250. CrossRef
Tanaka, H., Takagi, Y., Naito, Y., 2001, Swimming speed and buoyancy compensation of migrating adult chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, revealed by speed/depth/acceleration data logger. J. Exp. Biol. 204, 3895-3904.
Tsuda, Y., Kawabe, R., Tanaka, H., Mitsunaga, Y., Hiraishi, T., Yamamoto, K., Nashimoto, K., 2006, Monitoring the spawning behaviour of chum salmon with an acceleration data logger. Ecol. Freshwater Fish 15, 264-274. CrossRef
Webb, P., 1971, The swimming energetics of trout. II. Oxygen consumption and swimming efficiency. J. Exp. Biol. 55, 521-540.
Whitney, N.M., Pratt, H.L Jr., Carrier, J.C., 2004, Group courtship, mating behaviour, and siphon sac function in the whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus. Anim. Behav. 68, 1435-1442. CrossRef
Williams, T.M., Fuiman, L.A., Horning, M., Davis, R.W., 2004, The cost of foraging by a marine predator, the Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddellii: pricing by the stroke. J. Exp. Biol. 207, 973-982. CrossRef
Wilson, R.P., White, C.R., Quintana, F., Halsey, L.G., Liebsch, N., Martin, G.R., Butler, P.J., 2006, Moving towards acceleration for estimates of activity-specific metabolic rate in free-living animals: the case of the cormorant. J. Anim. Ecol. 75, 1081-1090. CrossRef
Yoda, K., Sato, K., Niizuma, Y., Kurita, M., Bost, C., Le Maho, Y., Naito, Y., 1999, Precise monitoring of porpoising behavior of Adelie penguins determined using acceleration data loggers. J. Exp. Biol. 202, 3121-3126.