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Barnett A, Jaine FRA, Bierwagen SL, Lubitz N, Abrantes K, Heupel MR, Harcourt R, Huveneers C, Dwyer RG, Udyawer V, Simpfendorfer CA, Miller IB, Scott-Holland T, Kilpatrick CS, Williams SM, Smith D, Dudgeon CL, Hoey AS, Fitzpatrick R, Osborne FE, Smoothey AF, Butcher PA, Sheaves M, Fisher EE, Svaikauskas M, Ellis M, Kanno S, Cresswell BJ, Flint N, Armstrong AO, Townsend KA, Mitchell JD, Campbell M, Peddemors VM, Gustafson JA, Currey-Randall LM. From little things big things grow: enhancement of an acoustic telemetry network to monitor broad-scale movements of marine species along Australia's east coast. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:31. [PMID: 38654348 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00468-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acoustic telemetry has become a fundamental tool to monitor the movement of aquatic species. Advances in technology, in particular the development of batteries with lives of > 10 years, have increased our ability to track the long-term movement patterns of many species. However, logistics and financial constraints often dictate the locations and deployment duration of acoustic receivers. Consequently, there is often a compromise between optimal array design and affordability. Such constraints can hinder the ability to track marine animals over large spatial and temporal scales. Continental-scale receiver networks have increased the ability to study large-scale movements, but significant gaps in coverage often remain. METHODS Since 2007, the Integrated Marine Observing System's Animal Tracking Facility (IMOS ATF) has maintained permanent receiver installations on the eastern Australian seaboard. In this study, we present the recent enhancement of the IMOS ATF acoustic tracking infrastructure in Queensland to collect data on large-scale movements of marine species in the northeast extent of the national array. Securing a relatively small initial investment for expanding receiver deployment and tagging activities in Queensland served as a catalyst, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders (research institutes, universities, government departments, port corporations, industries, Indigenous ranger groups and tourism operators) to create an extensive collaborative network that could sustain the extended receiver coverage into the future. To fill gaps between existing installations and maximise the monitoring footprint, the new initiative has an atypical design, deploying many single receivers spread across 2,100 km of Queensland waters. RESULTS The approach revealed previously unknown broad-scale movements for some species and highlights that clusters of receivers are not always required to enhance data collection. However, array designs using predominantly single receiver deployments are more vulnerable to data gaps when receivers are lost or fail, and therefore "redundancy" is a critical consideration when designing this type of array. CONCLUSION Initial results suggest that our array enhancement, if sustained over many years, will uncover a range of previously unknown movements that will assist in addressing ecological, fisheries, and conservation questions for multiple species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Barnett
- Marine Data Technology Hub, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
- Biopixel Oceans Foundation, Cairns, QLD, 4878, Australia.
| | - Fabrice R A Jaine
- Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Animal Tracking Facility, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, 2088, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Stacy L Bierwagen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Nicolas Lubitz
- Marine Data Technology Hub, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Biopixel Oceans Foundation, Cairns, QLD, 4878, Australia
| | - Kátya Abrantes
- Marine Data Technology Hub, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Biopixel Oceans Foundation, Cairns, QLD, 4878, Australia
| | - Michelle R Heupel
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
- Integrated Marine Observing System, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia
| | - Rob Harcourt
- Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Animal Tracking Facility, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, 2088, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Charlie Huveneers
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia
| | - Ross G Dwyer
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - Vinay Udyawer
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Darwin, NT, 0810, Australia
| | - Colin A Simpfendorfer
- University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Ingo B Miller
- Marine Data Technology Hub, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Biopixel Oceans Foundation, Cairns, QLD, 4878, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Tracey Scott-Holland
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Carley S Kilpatrick
- Queensland Government, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Manly, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Samuel M Williams
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Daniel Smith
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Christine L Dudgeon
- Biopixel Oceans Foundation, Cairns, QLD, 4878, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Richard Fitzpatrick
- Biopixel Oceans Foundation, Cairns, QLD, 4878, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Felicity E Osborne
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - Amy F Smoothey
- Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries Research, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, New South Wales, Mosman, NSW, 2088, Australia
| | - Paul A Butcher
- Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales, National Marine Science Center, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia
| | - Marcus Sheaves
- Marine Data Technology Hub, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Eric E Fisher
- GBR Biology, Experience Co., Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia
| | - Mark Svaikauskas
- Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, Haypoint, Mackay, QLD, 4740, Australia
| | - Megan Ellis
- Gladstone Ports Corporation Limited, Gladstone, QLD, 4680, Australia
| | - Shiori Kanno
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Benjamin J Cresswell
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Nicole Flint
- Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, 4702, Australia
| | - Asia O Armstrong
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - Kathy A Townsend
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - Jonathan D Mitchell
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Matthew Campbell
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Victor M Peddemors
- Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries Research, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, New South Wales, Mosman, NSW, 2088, Australia
| | - Johan A Gustafson
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4215, Australia
| | - Leanne M Currey-Randall
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, Division of Research and Innovation, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
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Guttridge TL, Müller L, Keller BA, Bond ME, Grubbs RD, Winram W, Howey LA, Frazier BS, Gruber SH. Vertical space use and thermal range of the great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), (Rüppell, 1837) in the western North Atlantic. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2022; 101:797-810. [PMID: 36056454 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) is a highly mobile, large-bodied shark primarily found in coastal-pelagic and semi-oceanic waters across a circumtropical range. It is a target or by-catch species in multiple fisheries, and as a result, rapid population declines have occurred in many regions. These declines have contributed to the species being assessed as globally critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Although conservation and management measures have yielded promising results in some regions, such as the United States, high levels of at-vessel and post-release mortality remain a major concern to the species population recovery. This examined the vertical space use and thermal range of pop-off archival satellite-tagged S. mokarran in the western North Atlantic Ocean, expanding the understanding of the ecological niche of this species and providing insight into by-catch mitigation strategies for fisheries managers. The results showed that S. mokarran predominantly used shallow depths (75% of records <30 m) and had a narrow temperature range (89% of records between 23 and 28°C). Individual differences in depth use were apparent, and a strong diel cycle was observed, with sharks occupying significantly deeper depths during the daytime. Furthermore, two individuals were confirmed pregnant with one migrating from the Bahamas to South Carolina, U.S.A., providing further evidence of regional connectivity and parturition off the U.S. East Coast. The findings suggest that S. mokarran may be vulnerable to incidental capture in the western North Atlantic commercial longline fisheries due to substantial vertical overlap between the species and the gear. The results can be incorporated into conservation and management efforts to develop and/or refine mitigation measures focused on reducing the by-catch and associated mortality of this species, which can ultimately aide S. mokarran population recovery in areas with poor conservation status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan L Guttridge
- Saving the Blue, Cooper City, Florida, USA
- Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, South Bimini, Bahamas
| | - Lukas Müller
- Marine Animal Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- The Watermen Project, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bryan A Keller
- Saving the Blue, Cooper City, Florida, USA
- Coastal and Marine Laboratory, Florida State University, St. Teresa, Florida, USA
| | - Mark E Bond
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, North Miami, Florida, USA
| | - R Dean Grubbs
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Research Institute, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | | | - Lucy A Howey
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Bryan S Frazier
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Research Institute, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Samuel H Gruber
- Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, South Bimini, Bahamas
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