scholarly journals Changes in diving behaviour and habitat use of provisioned whale sharks: implications for management

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Araujo ◽  
Jessica Labaja ◽  
Sally Snow ◽  
Charlie Huveneers ◽  
Alessandro Ponzo
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Sustainable Tourism ◽  
Diving Behaviour ◽  
Whale Shark ◽  
Rhincodon Typus ◽  
The World ◽  
Whale Sharks ◽  
Temperature Depth

Abstract Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) tourism is increasingly popular at predictable aggregations around the world, but only a few use provisioning to ensure close interactions. Understanding the effects of provisioning on the behaviour of this endangered species is critical to manage this growing industry. We recorded the diving behaviour and habitat use of juvenile whale sharks (n = 4) for a mean of 49.5 provisioned and 33.8 non-provisioned days using temperature-depth-recorders. We found that time spent at the surface (< 2 m) between 6 am and 1 pm increased ~ sixfold, while timing of deep dives shifted from 4–10 am to 10 am–2 pm, i.e. near or at the end of the provisioning activities. The shift might be related to a need to thermoregulate following a prolonged period of time in warmer water. These changes could have fitness implications for individuals frequently visiting the provisioning site. Based on recorded amount of time spent in warm waters and published Q10 values for ectotherms, we estimate a 7.2 ± 3.7% (range 1.3–17.8%) higher metabolic rate when sharks frequent the provisioning site. The observed behavioural, habitat use, and potential fitness shifts should be considered when developing guidelines for sustainable tourism, particularly in light of new provisioning sites developing elsewhere.

scholarly journals STATUS PEMANFAATAN DAN UPAYA PENANGANAN HIU PAUS (Rhincodon typus) TERDAMPAR DI PERAIRAN INDONESIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Budi Nugraha ◽  
Dharmadi Dharmadi ◽  
Ngurah N. Wiadnyana
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Red List ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Whale Shark ◽  
Rhincodon Typus ◽  
The World ◽  
Whale Sharks ◽  
Shallow Area

Hiu paus merupakan salah satu jenis hiu berukuran terbesar yang ada di dunia dan sudah masuk dalam daftar merah (Red List) untuk spesies terancam IUCN yaitu berstatus terancam punah (endangered). Untuk menjaga agar sumber daya hiu paus tetap terjamin populasinya, maka perlu adanya upaya pengelolaan untuk mendukung pelestarian spesies ini. Dalam makalah ini dibahas tentang strategi pemanfaatan dan penanganan hiu paus yang terdampar di perairan Indonesia. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah survei lapang dan wawancara yang dilakukan di Probolinggo dan Situbondo, Jawa Timur. Data dan informasi dihimpun dari penelusuran, dan penelahaan data dan informasi hasil penelitian serta laporan kegiatan yang terkait dengan hiu paus terdampar maupun keberadaannya di beberapa wilayah perairan di Indonesia. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat enam wilayah perairan kemunculan hiu paus di Indonesia, baik yang menetap maupun yang tinggal sementara yaitu di perairan Teluk Cendrawasih, Talisayan, Kaimana, Teluk Gorontalo, Probolinggo, dan Banggai Kepulauan. Jumlah hiu paus yang berada di perairan Indonesia dan tersebar di beberapa wilayah perairan diperkirakan mencapai 253 ekor. dan teramati terbanyak berada di perairan Teluk Cendrawasih sebanyak 131 ekor. Kemunculan hiu paus maupun yang terdampar hampir terjadi setiap tahun dalam kondisi hidup terkadang keadaan mati. Koordinasi antara instansi terkait dan masyarakat dalam menangani dan menyelamatkan hiu paus yang terdampar maupun terjerat jaring saat ini sudah berjalan dengan baik. Terdapat 7 tahapan tata cara penanganan hiu paus terdampar dan ada 4 tahapan dalam rangka menunjang ekowisata hiu paus.Whale shark is one of the largest sharks in the world and on the red list IUCN for endangered species. To ensure that the population of whale sharks remains guaranteed, management efforts are needed to support the conservation of this species. The utilization and handling strategy of the whale sharks that stranded down in several Indonesian waters should be discussed seriously. Field survey method was applied and interview was done in Probolinggo and Situbondo, East Java. Data and information were collected and had been analyzed as well as activities reported that related to whale sharks stranded and their presence in several territorial waters Indonesia waters. The results of the study showed that there were six Indonesia waters area in which whale sharks appeared, both permanent and temporary, namely in Cendrawasih Bay, Talisayan, Kaimana, Gorontalo, Probolinggo, and Banggai Islands. The whale shark number that found in several Indonesian waters had been estimated about 253  individuals and the highest number was found 131 in Cendrawasih Bay. The appearances of whale shark and stranded in Indonesian waters has been almost every year and found in living or in such cases been in dead conditions that trapped in the shallow area. Coordination between related agencies and the community to carry out and rescuing whale sharks stranded or entangled in nets, has been in good progress. There were 7 stages of procedures for handling stranded whale sharks and 4 stages in order to support the ecotourism activities that related with appearances of whale sharks.

scholarly journals The impact of injury on apparent survival of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area, Maldives

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Harvey-Carroll ◽  
Joshua D. Stewart ◽  
Daire Carroll ◽  
Basith Mohamed ◽  
Ibrahim Shameel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Whale Shark ◽  
Apparent Survival ◽  
Rhincodon Typus ◽  
Whale Sharks ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is an endangered species with a declining global population. The South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), Maldives, is one of few locations globally where year-long residency of individuals occurs. This SAMPA aggregation appears to consist almost exclusively of immature males. Due to its year-round residency, this local aggregation is subjected to a high degree of tourism pressure. This ecotourism contributes to the high level of interest and protection offered to whale sharks by the local community. Unfortunately, if regulations are not followed or enforced, tourism can bring with it major stressors, such as accidental injuries. We used POPAN capture-mark-recapture models and lagged identification rate analysis to assess the effect of major injuries on whale shark residency within SAMPA. Injuries may be obtained outside SAMPA. We found individuals with major injuries had a higher apparent survival in the area than those without. Lagged identification rates also demonstrated that sharks with major injuries are more likely to return to the area. We suggest that major injuries result in sharks prolonging their time in the developmental habitat. These findings have implications for individual fitness and the population viability of this endangered species. We propose targeted conservation strategies be considered to protect sharks from further injury. Based on the presented spatio-temporal distributions of sharks, and current local knowledge of sighting patterns, speed limit zones and propeller-exclusion zones should be implemented and enforced. If carried out alongside tourist education, these measures will contribute to the protection of whale sharks within SAMPA and beyond. Furthermore, our results can aid research direction, alongside regulation and enforcement development, at similar sites worldwide.

scholarly journals Movements and habitat use of satellite-tagged whale sharks off western Madagascar

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stella Diamant ◽  
Christoph A Rohner ◽  
Jeremy J Kiszka ◽  
Arthur Guillemain d’Echon ◽  
Tanguy Guillemain d’Echon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Small Proportion ◽  
Kernel Density ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Northwest Coast ◽  
Whale Shark ◽  
Rhincodon Typus ◽  
Whale Sharks ◽  
Main Activity

Whale sharks Rhincodon typus, the world’s largest fish, are routinely sighted off the northwest coast of Madagascar, particularly off the island of Nosy Be. Dedicated whale shark tourism has been developing in the area since 2011. During our first dedicated survey, from September-December 2016, we photo-identified 85 individual whale sharks, ranging from 3.5–8 m in total length (all juveniles). None had been previously identified from other known whale shark aggregations. We tagged eight sharks with tethered SPOT5 tags in October 2016, with tracking durations of 9–199 days. Kernel density plots showed that the main activity hotspot for tagged sharks was around the Nosy Be area. Three individuals were resighted back at Nosy Be in late 2017, after having lost their tags. A secondary hotspot was identified off Pointe d’Analalava, 180 km southeast of Nosy Be. Five sharks swam off the shelf into the northeastern Mozambique Channel, between Madagascar and Mayotte, and one of these continued to near the Comoros islands. Two sharks swam to southern Madagascar, with minimum track distances of 3414 km and 4275 km. The species is presently unprotected in Madagascar, although a small proportion of the high-use area we identified in this study is encompassed within two marine protected areas adjacent to Nosy Be. Whale sharks are globally endangered, and valuable to the local economy, so there is a clear rationale to identify and mitigate impacts on the sharks within the two hotspots identified here.

scholarly journals Seasonal Occurrence, Horizontal Movements, and Habitat Use Patterns of Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus) in the Gulf of Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric R. Hoffmayer ◽  
Jennifer A. McKinney ◽  
James S. Franks ◽  
Jill M. Hendon ◽  
William B. Driggers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Seasonal Occurrence ◽  
Whale Shark ◽  
Shelf Edge ◽  
Rhincodon Typus ◽  
Aggregation Site ◽  
Whale Sharks

In the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM), whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) form large aggregations at continental shelf-edge banks during summer; however, knowledge of movements once they leave aggregation sites is limited. Here we report on the seasonal occurrence of whale sharks in the northern GOM based on over 800 whale shark sightings from 1989 to 2016, as well as the movements of 42 whale sharks tagged with satellite-linked and popup satellite archival transmitting tags from 2008 to 2015. Sightings data were most numerous during summer and fall often with aggregations of individuals reported along the continental shelf break. Most sharks (66%) were tagged during this time at Ewing Bank, a known aggregation site off the coast of Louisiana. Whale shark track duration ranged from three to 366 days and all tagged individuals, which ranged from 4.5 to 12.0 m in total length, remained within the GOM. Sightings data revealed that whale sharks occurred primarily in continental shelf and shelf-edge waters (81%) whereas tag data revealed the sharks primarily inhabited continental slope and open ocean waters (91%) of the GOM. Much of their time spent in open ocean waters was associated with the edge of the Loop Current and associated mesoscale eddies. During cooler months, there was a net movement southward, corresponding with the time of reduced sighting reports. Several sharks migrated to the southwest GOM during fall and winter, suggesting this region could be important overwintering habitat and possibly represents another seasonal aggregation site. The three long-term tracked whale sharks exhibited interannual site fidelity, returning one year later to the vicinity where they were originally tagged. The increased habitat use of north central GOM waters by whale sharks as summer foraging grounds and potential interannual site fidelity to Ewing Bank demonstrate the importance of this region for this species.

scholarly journals Movements and habitat use of satellite-tagged whale sharks off western Madagascar

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stella Diamant ◽  
Christoph A Rohner ◽  
Jeremy J Kiszka ◽  
Arthur Guillemain d’Echon ◽  
Tanguy Guillemain d’Echon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Small Proportion ◽  
Kernel Density ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Northwest Coast ◽  
Whale Shark ◽  
Rhincodon Typus ◽  
Whale Sharks ◽  
Main Activity

Whale sharks Rhincodon typus, the world’s largest fish, are routinely sighted off the northwest coast of Madagascar, particularly off the island of Nosy Be. Dedicated whale shark tourism has been developing in the area since 2011. During our first dedicated survey, from September-December 2016, we photo-identified 85 individual whale sharks, ranging from 3.5–8 m in total length (all juveniles). None had been previously identified from other known whale shark aggregations. We tagged eight sharks with tethered SPOT5 tags in October 2016, with tracking durations of 9–199 days. Kernel density plots showed that the main activity hotspot for tagged sharks was around the Nosy Be area. Three individuals were resighted back at Nosy Be in late 2017, after having lost their tags. A secondary hotspot was identified off Pointe d’Analalava, 180 km southeast of Nosy Be. Five sharks swam off the shelf into the northeastern Mozambique Channel, between Madagascar and Mayotte, and one of these continued to near the Comoros islands. Two sharks swam to southern Madagascar, with minimum track distances of 3414 km and 4275 km. The species is presently unprotected in Madagascar, although a small proportion of the high-use area we identified in this study is encompassed within two marine protected areas adjacent to Nosy Be. Whale sharks are globally endangered, and valuable to the local economy, so there is a clear rationale to identify and mitigate impacts on the sharks within the two hotspots identified here.

scholarly journals Sizing and scarring of whale shark (Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828) in the Cenderawasih Bay National Park

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-213
Author(s):  
Yusup A Jentewo ◽  
Roni Bawole ◽  
Tresia S Tururaja ◽  
Mudjirahayu Mudjirahayu ◽  
Zeth Parinding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
The Body ◽  
Whale Shark ◽  
Gill Slit ◽  
Rhincodon Typus ◽  
Photo Identification ◽  
Dorsal Fin ◽  
Total Length ◽  
Whale Sharks ◽  
Photo Collection

This study aims to determine the total length and scar condition of the body of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in Cendrawasih Bay National Park (TNTC), Papua-Indonesia. Photo-identification was used to identify individuals of the whale shark R. typus based on spot patterns behind the last gill slit of each individual. Photo-identification was also used to determine the scar of the whale shark. The total length of whale sharks were estimated based on the length of a snorkeller (assumed to be 1.6 m) swimming alongside the whale shark. We identified 21 individuals of R. typus. Of these 21 individuals, 14 were new sightings and seven were re-sightings that have been recorded in the previous photo collection database. R. typus ranged in size from 2 to 5 m total length (average 3.78 m, ±0,86, N= 21). Based on their size, all individuals of whale shark were categorized as juvenile. 52% of R. typus identified had scars and 38 % were not and 10% were unknown. The majority of whale sharks had amputation (12 individuals) and abrasion (7 individuals) scars. Scars occurred most often on the caudal fin and dorsal fin, five and four individuals respectively. This information is useful for understanding potential threats and designing better management programmes for R. typus conservation in TNTC.

Temperature-depth-recorder tags reveal modified diving behaviour by whale sharks at a provisioning site in Cebu, Philippines

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Araujo ◽  
Jordan Thomson ◽  
Jessica Labaja ◽  
Sally Snow ◽  
James Montgomery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diving Behaviour ◽  
Whale Sharks ◽  
Temperature Depth

scholarly journals A First Comparison of Microplastics Abundance between Two Whale Shark Feeding Areas of the Gulf of California, Mexico.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Roberta Cardelli ◽  
Francesca Pancaldi ◽  
Felipe Galván Magaña ◽  
Darren Andrew Whitehead
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Gulf Of California ◽  
Ingestion Rate ◽  
Whale Shark ◽  
La Paz ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Whale Sharks

Abstract Abundance and typology of microplastics (MPs) were measured in 12 water samples collected from two whale sharks feeding areas of the Gulf of California (Bahía de los Angeles (BLA) and Bahia de La Paz (LAP)). The concentration of MPs was 0.47 MPs/ m3 in BLA and 0.63 MPs/ m3 in LAP. Overall, films were the most abundant type of MPs (41%; n = 74) followed by line (37%; n = 68), fragments (20%; n = 36) and pellet (2%; n = 3), with significative differences between the types of microplastics. Theoretical ingestion rate per hour of MPs for the species was determined to be 288.58 and 386.82 in BLA and LAP, respectively. In faecal samples collected directly from animals of LAP (n = 3), 67% of the MPs were films, 25% were fragments, and 8% were lines. Results from this study indicate that MPs are common in the feeding areas of this endangered species and that whale sharks are likely ingesting MPs from filtering the surface water.

scholarly journals Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) behavior: A multi-year analysis of individuals at Georgia Aquarium

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P Black ◽  
Matthew Grober ◽  
Christian Schreiber ◽  
Chris Coco ◽  
Alistair Dove
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Time ◽  
Whale Shark ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Behavioral Profile ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Rhincodon Typus ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Whale Sharks ◽  
Daily Changes

Background. From the coastal seas near Taiwan to the 6.3 million gallon Ocean Voyager habitat at Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, were brought in stages: two females arrived in June 2006 and two males in June 2007. The behavioral observations described in this study began in 2008 as the first reported observations in captivity to assist in husbandry and better understand whale shark behavior variation between individuals and across time. Methods. Two types of observations were made of the four sharks currently in the Georgia Aquarium Ocean Voyager habitat: 1) 15-minute focal observations throughout the day of individual sharks from a high gantry vantage point using Stopwatch+ software to time stamp all recorded behavior and 2) observations of swim speed, depth, and swimming direction for all sharks passing by a section of wall over longer periods of time (15 min-hours). Z-tests were used for inter-observer reliability. Results. For most traits, whale sharks demonstrated unique behavioral profiles that were consistent over many years, but, over the course of years, some of these behavioral traits changed for individual sharks. There were also daily changes in behavior that were consistent across days. For instance, whale sharks showed a clear anticipation of feeding time marked by increases in swimming speed prior to obvious cues of the feed (i.e. 1 hour prior). During observations recorded during the day, whale sharks spent the majority of their time swimming at or near the surface. Most spent relatively equal times swimming clockwise as they did counterclockwise. Swim speeds observed in the habitat were similar to the range of those estimated from work in the field. Conclusion. Each shark in the habitat demonstrated a behavioral profile unique to that individual, and we have observed short-term and long-term consistent patterns as well as changes in some behavior. These observations increase our knowledge of whale shark behavior, assisting in the husbandry of these animals and giving a better understanding of individual differences, temporal changes, and interactions between sharks.

scholarly journals Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) behavior: A multi-year analysis of individuals at Georgia Aquarium

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P Black ◽  
Matthew Grober ◽  
Christian Schreiber ◽  
Chris Coco ◽  
Alistair Dove
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Time ◽  
Whale Shark ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Behavioral Profile ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Rhincodon Typus ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Whale Sharks ◽  
Daily Changes

Background. From the coastal seas near Taiwan to the 6.3 million gallon Ocean Voyager habitat at Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, were brought in stages: two females arrived in June 2006 and two males in June 2007. The behavioral observations described in this study began in 2008 as the first reported observations in captivity to assist in husbandry and better understand whale shark behavior variation between individuals and across time. Methods. Two types of observations were made of the four sharks currently in the Georgia Aquarium Ocean Voyager habitat: 1) 15-minute focal observations throughout the day of individual sharks from a high gantry vantage point using Stopwatch+ software to time stamp all recorded behavior and 2) observations of swim speed, depth, and swimming direction for all sharks passing by a section of wall over longer periods of time (15 min-hours). Z-tests were used for inter-observer reliability. Results. For most traits, whale sharks demonstrated unique behavioral profiles that were consistent over many years, but, over the course of years, some of these behavioral traits changed for individual sharks. There were also daily changes in behavior that were consistent across days. For instance, whale sharks showed a clear anticipation of feeding time marked by increases in swimming speed prior to obvious cues of the feed (i.e. 1 hour prior). During observations recorded during the day, whale sharks spent the majority of their time swimming at or near the surface. Most spent relatively equal times swimming clockwise as they did counterclockwise. Swim speeds observed in the habitat were similar to the range of those estimated from work in the field. Conclusion. Each shark in the habitat demonstrated a behavioral profile unique to that individual, and we have observed short-term and long-term consistent patterns as well as changes in some behavior. These observations increase our knowledge of whale shark behavior, assisting in the husbandry of these animals and giving a better understanding of individual differences, temporal changes, and interactions between sharks.

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