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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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Huveneers C, Blount C, Bradshaw CJA, Butcher PA, Lincoln Smith MP, Macbeth WG, McPhee DP, Moltschaniwskyj N, Peddemors VM, Green M. Shifts in the incidence of shark bites and efficacy of beach-focussed mitigation in Australia. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 198:115855. [PMID: 38043202 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115855] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Shark-human interactions are some of the most pervasive human-wildlife conflicts, and their frequencies are increasing globally. New South Wales (Australia) was the first to implement a broad-scale program of shark-bite mitigation in 1937 using shark nets, which expanded in the late 2010s to include non-lethal measures. Using 196 unprovoked shark-human interactions recorded in New South Wales since 1900, we show that bites shifted from being predominantly on swimmers to 79 % on surfers by the 1980s and increased 2-4-fold. We could not detect differences in the interaction rate at netted versus non-netted beaches since the 2000s, partly because of low incidence and high variance. Although shark-human interactions continued to occur at beaches with tagged-shark listening stations, there were no interactions while SMART drumlines and/or drones were deployed. Our effect-size analyses show that a small increase in the difference between mitigated and non-mitigated beaches could indicate reductions in shark-human interactions. Area-based protection alone is insufficient to reduce shark-human interactions, so we propose a new, globally transferable approach to minimise risk of shark bite more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Huveneers
- Southern Shark Ecology Group, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia.
| | - Craig Blount
- Stantec Australia Pty Ltd., St Leonards, New South Wales 1590, Australia
| | - Corey J A Bradshaw
- Global Ecology | Partuyarta Ngadluku Wardli Kuu, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
| | - Paul A Butcher
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Fisheries, National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia; Southern Cross University, National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia
| | - Marcus P Lincoln Smith
- Stantec Australia Pty Ltd., St Leonards, New South Wales 1590, Australia; Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - William G Macbeth
- Stantec Australia Pty Ltd., St Leonards, New South Wales 1590, Australia
| | - Daryl P McPhee
- Faculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland 4229, Australia
| | - Natalie Moltschaniwskyj
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Fisheries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Nelson Bay, New South Wales 2315, Australia; School of Environmental Science, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Victor M Peddemors
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Fisheries, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
| | - Marcel Green
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Fisheries, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
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