scholarly journals Effects of Smart Position Only (SPOT) Tag Deployment on White Sharks Carcharodon carcharias in South Africa

PLoS ONE ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. e27242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver J. D. Jewell ◽  
Michelle A. Wcisel ◽  
Enrico Gennari ◽  
Alison V. Towner ◽  
Marthán N. Bester ◽  
...  
2015 ◽  
Vol Volume 111 (Number 11/12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Romala Govender ◽  

Abstract This study forms part of a larger project to reconstruct the Mio-Pliocene marine palaeoenvironment along South Africa’s west coast. It documents the shark–cetacean trophic interaction during the Zanclean (5 Ma) at Duinefontein (Koeberg). The damage described on the fragmentary cetacean bones was compared with similar damage observed on fossils from Langebaanweg, a Mio-Pliocene site on the west coast of South Africa, and data present in the literature. This comparison showed that the damage was the result of shark bites. The state of preservation makes it difficult to determine if the shark bite marks were the cause of death or as a result of scavenging. The presence of the bite marks on the bone would, however, indicate some degree of skeletonisation. Bite marks on some cranial fragments would suggest that the cetacean’s body was in an inverted position typical of a floating carcass. The preservation of the material suggests that the bones were exposed to wave action resulting in their fragmentation as well as abrasion, polishing and rolling. It also suggests that the cetacean skeletons were exposed for a long time prior to burial. The morphology of the bites suggests that the damage was inflicted by sharks with serrated and unserrated teeth. Shark teeth collected from the deposit include megalodon (Carcharodon megalodon), white (Carcharodon carcharias) as well as mako (Isurus sp. and Cosmopolitodus hastalis) sharks, making these sharks the most likely predators/scavengers.


2009 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Johnson ◽  
Marthán N. Bester ◽  
Sheldon F. J. Dudley ◽  
W. Herman Oosthuizen ◽  
Michael Meÿer ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 115 (11/12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Gennari ◽  
Alison A. Kock ◽  
Malcolm J. Smale ◽  
Alison Towner ◽  
Nasreen Khan ◽  
...  

The white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is responsible for 49% of shark-related injuries in South Africa, yet no information currently exists on the composition or antibiotic resistance of bacteria hosted by these apex predators in South African waters. This study aimed to address this gap by sampling the bacteria present in the oral cavities of 28 live C. carcharias along South Africa’s southern coastline. The antibiotic resistance of the range of microbiota was also assessed using antibiotic disc diffusion tests. A total of 51 strains from at least 20 species of bacteria were isolated from the oral cavities of C. carcharias. Of these strains, the most common bacteria present were Serratia spp., Proteus vulgaris and Vibrio alginolyticus. The overall antibiotic resistance was relatively higher in this study than that reported for bacterial microbiota sampled from other shark species. Results indicate that the combination therapy of imipenem (carbapenem antibiotic) and vancomycin (glycopeptide antibiotic) might be the most parsimonious option to effectively treat infections resulting from white shark bites, particularly in South Africa. It is hoped that, in addition to assisting medical professionals to treat shark bite victims, these findings enhance the understanding of the microbial communities present in large coastal predators and their surrounding environments.


2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 530 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Dicken ◽  
A. J. Booth

The present study provides information on the existence of a possible inshore nursery area for white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in Algoa Bay, South Africa. In total, 43 flights were conducted, using a Robinson R22 helicopter, between October 2010 and March 2012. A total of 50 white sharks was sighted, with a maximum sighting rate of seven sharks per hour in October 2010. The majority (96.0%) of sharks observed were less than 2.5 m in length, immature and sighted between October and March (98.0%). A hurdle model, comprising a logistic regression to model presence–absence and a log-normal generalised linear model for abundance showed that water temperature and barometric pressure explained the sightings of sharks, peaking in mid-December. The sighting of sharks was best explained by barometric pressure, month and year. A total of 58 white shark catches was recorded from key informant interviews with shore anglers between July 2009 and December 2011. Sharks ranged in size from 1.5 to 2.5 m in total length, with young-of-the-year sharks (<1.75 m) accounting for 69.0% of the catch. Defining key habitats for young-of-the-year and juveniles is critical for the management and conservation of white sharks worldwide.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e55048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Kock ◽  
M. Justin O’Riain ◽  
Katya Mauff ◽  
Michael Meÿer ◽  
Deon Kotze ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 156 (10) ◽  
pp. 2199-2207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chrysoula Gubili ◽  
Ryan Johnson ◽  
Enrico Gennari ◽  
W. Hermann Oosthuizen ◽  
Deon Kotze ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Nicole Nasby-Lucas ◽  
Michael L Domeier

Satellite linked radio transmitting (SLRT) tags provide long-term, high accuracy, near real-time tracking data for marine wildlife. Adult white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias Linnaeus, 1758) in the northeastern Pacific at both Guadalupe Island, Mexico and Southeast Farallon Island, USA were tagged with SLRT oval and inline finmout tags. These tags provided up to 7.4 yrs of tracking data. A previous study showed structural dorsal fin damage for SLRT tagged juvenile and subadult white sharks off South Africa. Sharks tagged in the northeastern Pacific were resighted between 1 and 11 yrs post tagging and included 10 adults and 2 subadults. Sharks that were resighted did not exhibit significant fin deformation, although in one case the oval finmount tag did cause bending of the dorsal fin due to tag shape, weight, and placement of the tag on the dorsal fin. Four inline tags came off after deployments of at least 2.2 to 3.7 yrs (based on date of last message received), and two of these caused a tear to the trailing edge of the dorsal fin upon release. Overall, SLRT tags provided long-term tracking data and there was no apparent impact on the behavior or migration cycles of the sharks. Serious dorsal fin deformation seems to occur in the case of juvenile and subadult white sharks where the fin is rapidly growing and thus for tracking juvenile white sharks, alternate methods should be considered.


2012 ◽  
Vol 96 (7) ◽  
pp. 881-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver J. D. Jewell ◽  
Ryan L. Johnson ◽  
Enrico Gennari ◽  
Marthán N. Bester

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