Author:
Becerril-García Edgar E.,Hoyos-Padilla Edgar M.,Micarelli Primo,Galván-Magaña Felipe,Sperone Emilio
Abstract
AbstractThis study describes the effect of different baits on the attraction, surface behaviour and conditioning of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias during local ecotourism activities. The sightings, behaviours, and pictures used for photographic identification were obtained during August to November 2012–2014 onboard tourist boats in Guadalupe Island, Mexico. Four types of baits were used: (1) frozen bait; (2) frozen bait and natural chum; (3) fresh fish bait; and (4) mackerel bags. Data were analysed according to sex, maturity and the total of sharks using 6,145 sightings of 121 white sharks. The type of bait showed no significant difference on the effectiveness to attracting sharks. Ethological analysis showed that the type of bait had a significant effect on the shark’s surface behaviour during its interactions with boats. Natural chum and fresh baits showed short term behavioural patterns constituted by increased number of violent interactions with the bait, while the frozen bait did not generate a defined behavioural pattern. Conditioning of white sharks was determined by the number of interactions and the consumption frequency of the bait. Fifty nine percent of sharks (n = 41) showed no conditioning, 36% (n = 25) showed a low risk and only 5% (n = 3) were found to have a high risk of conditioning. The results suggest that current ecotourism has no effect on the conditioning of the white sharks, and that all baits have a similar effectiveness for attracting the sharks. However, a different behavioural pattern was observed when fresh bait and chum were used, which could increase the potential of accidents during ecotourism.
Funder
Idea Wild
Alianza WWF‐Fundación Telmex Telcel
Alianza WWF-Fundación Carlos Slim
Charles Annenberg Foundation
Fins Attached
Università della Calabria
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference49 articles.
1. Laroche, K. R., Kock, A. A., Lawrence, D. M. & Oosthuizen, H. W. Effects of provisioning ecotourism activity on the behavior of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 338, 199–209 (2007).
2. Bruce, B. D. & Bradford, R. W. The effects of shark cage-diving. Mar. Biol. 160(4), 889–907 (2013).
3. Bruce, B. A Review Of Cage-Diving Impacts on White Shark Behaviour And Recommendations for Research and the Industry’s Management in New Zealand (Report to the Department of Conservation New Zealand, Hobart, 2015).
4. Klimley, A. P., Pyle, P. & Anderson, S. D. The behavior of white sharks and their pinniped prey during predatory attacks. In Great White Shark: The Biology of Carcharodon carcharias (eds Klimley, A. P. & Ainley, D. G.) (Academic Press, San Diego, 1996).
5. Hoyos-Padilla, E. M., Klimley, A. P., Galván-Magaña, F. & Antoniou, A. Contrasts in the movements and habitat use of juvenile and adult white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at Guadalupe Island, Mexico. Anim. Biotelem. 4, 14 (2016).
Cited by
13 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献