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van Zinnicq Bergmann MPM, Griffin LP, Bodey TW, Guttridge TL, Aarts G, Heithaus MR, Smukall MJ, Papastamatiou YP. Intraguild processes drive space-use patterns in a large-bodied marine predator community. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:876-890. [PMID: 38778676 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Interspecific interactions, including predator-prey, intraguild predation (IGP) and competition, may drive distribution and habitat use of predator communities. However, elucidating the relative importance of these interactions in shaping predator distributions is challenging, especially in marine communities comprising highly mobile species. We used individual-based models (IBMs) to predict the habitat distributions of apex predators, intraguild (IG) prey and prey. We then used passive acoustic telemetry to test these predictions in a subtropical marine predator community consisting of eight elasmobranch (i.e. shark and ray) species in Bimini, The Bahamas. IBMs predicted that prey and IG prey will preferentially select habitats based on safety over resources (food), with stronger selection for safe habitat by smaller prey. Elasmobranch space-use patterns matched these predictions. Species with predator-prey and asymmetrical IGP (between apex and small mesopredators) interactions showed the clearest spatial separation, followed by asymmetrical IGP among apex and large mesopredators. Competitors showed greater spatial overlap although with finer-scale differences in microhabitat use. Our study suggests space-use patterns in elasmobranchs are at least partially driven by interspecific interactions, with stronger spatial separation occurring where interactions include predator-prey relationships or IGP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurits P M van Zinnicq Bergmann
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
- Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Bimini, The Bahamas
| | - Lucas P Griffin
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas W Bodey
- School of Biological Sciences, King's College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Tristan L Guttridge
- Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Bimini, The Bahamas
- Saving the Blue, Cooper City, Florida, USA
| | - Geert Aarts
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group and Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, Den Helder, The Netherlands
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Michael R Heithaus
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Matthew J Smukall
- Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Bimini, The Bahamas
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| | - Yannis P Papastamatiou
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
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Asunsolo-Rivera A, Lester E, Langlois T, Vaughan B, McCormick MI, Simpson SD, Meekan MG. Behaviour of mesopredatory coral reef fishes in response to threats from sharks and humans. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6714. [PMID: 37185796 PMCID: PMC10130163 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33415-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Both sharks and humans present a potentially lethal threat to mesopredatory fishes in coral reef systems, with implications for both population dynamics and the role of mesopredatory fishes in reef ecosystems. This study quantifies the antipredator behaviours mesopredatory fishes exhibit towards the presence of large coral reef carnivores and compares these behavioural responses to those elicited by the presence of snorkelers. Here, we used snorkelers and animated life-size models of the blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) to simulate potential predatory threats to mesopredatory reef fishes (lethrinids, lutjanids, haemulids and serranids). The responses of these reef fishes to the models and the snorkelers were compared to those generated by three non-threatening controls (life-size models of a green turtle [Chelonia mydas], a PVC-pipe [an object control] and a Perspex shape [a second object control]). A Remote Underwater Stereo-Video System (Stereo-RUV) recorded the approach of the different treatments and controls and allowed accurate measurement of Flight Initiation Distance (FID) and categorization of the type of flight response by fishes. We found that mesopredatory reef fishes had greater FIDs in response to the approach of threatening models (1402 ± 402-1533 ± 171 mm; mean ± SE) compared to the controls (706 ± 151-896 ± 8963 mm). There was no significant difference in FID of mesopredatory fishes between the shark model and the snorkeler, suggesting that these treatments provoked similar levels of predator avoidance behaviour. This has implications for researchers monitoring behaviour in situ or using underwater census as a technique to estimate the abundance of reef fishes. Our study suggests that, irrespective of the degree to which sharks actually consume these mesopredatory reef fishes, they still elicit a predictable and consistent antipredator response that has the potential to create risk effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Asunsolo-Rivera
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
| | - E Lester
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - T Langlois
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - B Vaughan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - M I McCormick
- Coastal Marine Field Station, School of Science, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand
| | - S D Simpson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - M G Meekan
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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Drivers of variation in occurrence, abundance, and behaviour of sharks on coral reefs. Sci Rep 2022; 12:728. [PMID: 35031666 PMCID: PMC8760336 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04024-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantifying the drivers of population size in reef sharks is critical for the development of appropriate conservation strategies. In north-west Australia, shark populations inhabit coral reefs that border growing centres of human population, industry, and tourism. However, we lack baseline data on reef sharks at large spatial scales (hundreds of km) that might enable managers to assess the status of shark populations in the face of future development in this region. Here, we examined the occurrence, abundance and behaviour of apex (Galeocerdo cuvier, Carcharhinus plumbeus) and reef (C. amblyrhynchos, C. melanopterus, Triaenodon obesus) sharks using > 1200 deployments of baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs) across > 500 km of coastline. We found evidence for species-specific influences of habitat and fishing activities on the occurrence (probability of observation), abundance (MaxN) and behaviour of sharks (time of arrival to the stereo-BRUVs and likelihood of feeding). Although the presence of management zoning (No-take areas) made little difference to most species, C. amblyrhynchos were more common further from boat ramps (a proxy of recreational fishing pressure). Time of arrival for all species was also influenced by distance to boat ramp, although patterns varied among species. Our results demonstrate the capacity for behavioural metrics to complement existing measures of occurrence and abundance in assessing the potential impact of human activities on shark populations.
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Lester EK, Langlois TJ, McCormick MI, Simpson SD, Bond T, Meekan MG. Relative influence of predators, competitors and seascape heterogeneity on behaviour and abundance of coral reef mesopredators. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily K. Lester
- School of Biological Sciences and the UWA Oceans Inst., Univ. of Western Australia Crawley WA Australia
- Australian Inst. of Marine Science, UWA Oceans Inst. Crawley WA Australia
| | - Tim J. Langlois
- School of Biological Sciences and the UWA Oceans Inst., Univ. of Western Australia Crawley WA Australia
| | - Mark I. McCormick
- Coastal Marine Field Station, School of Science, Univ of Waikato Tauranga New Zealand
| | | | - Todd Bond
- School of Biological Sciences and the UWA Oceans Inst., Univ. of Western Australia Crawley WA Australia
| | - Mark G. Meekan
- Australian Inst. of Marine Science, UWA Oceans Inst. Crawley WA Australia
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