Acoustic accelerometry reveals diel activity patterns in premigratory Port Jackson sharks

Type Article
Date 2019-08
Language English
Author(s) Kadar Julianna1, Ladds Monique2, Mourier Johann3, Day Joanna4, Brown Culum1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Marsfield ,Australia
2 : Department of Conservation National Office Wellington ,New Zealand
3 : UMR MARBEC (IRD, Ifremer Univ. Montpellier, CNRS) Sète ,France
4 : Taronga Conservation Society Australia Mosman, Australia
Source Ecology And Evolution (2045-7758) (Wiley), 2019-08 , Vol. 9 , N. 16 , P. 8933-8944
DOI 10.1002/ece3.5323
WOS© Times Cited 19
Keyword(s) accelerometer, activity pattern, diel cycle, migratory restlessness, Port Jackson shark, root mean square acceleration
Abstract

Distinguishing the factors that influence activity within a species advances understanding of their behavior and ecology. Continuous observation in the marine environment is not feasible but biotelemetry devices provide an opportunity for detailed analysis of movements and activity patterns. This study investigated the detail that calibration of accelerometers measuring root mean square (RMS) acceleration with video footage can add to understanding the activity patterns of male and female Port Jackson sharks (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) in a captive environment. Linear regression was used to relate RMS acceleration output to time‐matched behavior captured on video to quantify diel activity patterns. To validate captive data, diel patterns from captive sharks were compared with diel movement data from free‐ranging sharks using passive acoustic tracking. The RMS acceleration data showed captive sharks exhibited nocturnal diel patterns peaking during the late evening before midnight and decreasing before sunrise. Correlation analysis revealed that captive animals displayed similar activity patterns to free‐ranging sharks. The timing of wild shark departures for migration in the late breeding season corresponded with elevated diel activity at night within the captive individuals, suggesting a form of migratory restlessness in captivity. By directly relating RMS acceleration output to activity level, we show that sex, time of day, and sex‐specific seasonal behavior all influenced activity levels. This study contributes to a growing body of evidence that RMS acceleration data are a promising method to determine activity patterns of cryptic marine animals and can provide more detailed information when validated in captivity.

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