Diving behaviour of whale sharks in relation to a predictable food pulse

Graham, R T, Roberts, C M and Smart, J C R (2006) Diving behaviour of whale sharks in relation to a predictable food pulse. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. pp. 109-116. ISSN 1742-5689

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Abstract

We present diving data for four whale sharks in relation to a predictable food pulse (reef fish spawn) and an analysis of the longest continuous fine-resolution diving record for a planktivorous shark. Fine-resolution pressure data from a recovered pop-up archival satellite tag deployed for 206 days on a whale shark were analysed using the fast Fourier Transform method for frequency domain analysis of time-series. The results demonstrated that a free-ranging whale shark displays ultradian, diel and circa-lunar rhythmicity of diving behaviour. Whale sharks dive to over 979.5 m and can tolerate a temperature range of 26.4 degrees C. The whale sharks made primarily diurnal deep dives and remained in relatively shallow waters at night. Whale shark diving patterns are influenced by a seasonally predictable food source, with shallower dives made during fish spawning periods.

Item Type:	Article
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information:	© 2005 The Royal Society
Keywords:	elasmobranch, circadian, rhythmicity, Fourier transform, satellite telemetry, diving behaviour, RHINCODON-TYPUS, FEEDING-ACTIVITY, MOVEMENTS, CALIFORNIA, TELEMETRY, TRACKING, RHYTHM
Academic Units:	The University of York > Environment (York)
Depositing User:	Repository Officer
Date Deposited:	20 Jun 2006
Last Modified:	19 Feb 2013 11:43
Published Version:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2005.0082
Status:	Published
Refereed:	Yes
Related URLs:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2005.0082
URI:	http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/1322

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