Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
2016
Journal
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Volume
547
First Page
163
Last Page
175
Abstract
Although shortfin mako sharks Isurus oxyrinchus are regularly encountered in pelagic fisheries, limited information is available on their vertical distribution and is primarily restricted to cooler areas of their geographic range. We investigated the vertical movements of mako sharks across differing temperature regimes within the western North Atlantic by tagging 8 individuals with pop-up satellite archival tags off the northeastern United States and the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Depth and temperature records across 587 d showed vertical movements strongly associated with ocean temperature. Temperatures150 m compared to only 1% in the coldest water columns. The sharks showed diel diving behavior, with deeper dives occurring primarily during the daytime (maximum depth: 866 m). Overall, sharks experienced temperatures between 5.2 and 31.1°C. When the opportunity was available, sharks spent considerable time in waters ranging from 22 to 27°C, indicating underestimation of the previously reported upper limit of the mako sharks’ preferred temperature. The preference for higher temperatures does not support endothermy as an adaption for niche expansion in mako sharks. The strong influence of thermal habitat on movement behavior suggests potentially strong impacts of rising ocean temperatures on the ecology of this highly migratory top predator.
DOI
doi: 10.3354/meps11646
Keywords
Habitat use · Satellite tracking · Dive behavior · Telemetry
Recommended Citation
Vaudo, Jeremy J.; Wetherbee, Bradley M.; Wood, Anthony D.; Weng, Kevin C.; and et al, Vertical movements of shortfin mako sharks Isurus oxyrinchus in the western North Atlantic Ocean are strongly influenced by temperature (2016). Marine Ecology Progress Series, 547, 163-175.
doi: 10.3354/meps11646
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