Testing the waters to find the 'goldilocks' zone: fine-scale movement of Mustelus mustelus in relation to environmental cues

Abstract

The fine-scale movement of Mustelus mustelus in relation to environmental conditions was investigated at various temporal scales with acoustic telemetry and temperature–depth transmitters inside a coastal marine protected area in South Africa. Twenty-four sharks were equipped with acoustic tags and logged by an array of 28 acoustic receivers from November 2006 to November 2008. Generalised additive and generalised additive mixed models (GAMMs) were used to explain patterns of movement in terms of the environmental conditions related to temperature, the rate of change of temperature, tidal flow, diel cycle and moon phase. The most important environmental parameters affecting movement and direction of movement were related to absolute temperature and changes in temperature at the position of the shark. The movement of M. mustelus was not affected by tide and only minimally affected by the diel cycle, suggesting behavioural thermoregulation as the ultimate cause of the movements. M. mustelus preferred temperatures from 18 to 22°C, as determined by GAMMs for environmental conditions experienced in summer. The combination of the thermal environment, rich feeding grounds and protective effect of the Langebaan Marine Protected Area may explain the high abundance and regular occurrence of M. mustelus within this marine protected area.