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Seasonal changes in movements and habitat preferences of the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) while refuging near an oceanic island

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Abstract

Movements and habitat preferences of sharks relative to a central location are widely documented for many species; however, the reasons for such behaviors are currently unknown. Do movements vary spatially or temporally or between individuals? Do sharks have seasonal habitat and environmental preferences or simply perform movements at random at any time of the year? To help understand requirements for the designation of critical habitats for an endangered top predator and to develop zoning and management plans for key habitats, we examined vertical and horizontal movements, and determined habitat and environmental preferences of scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). We tracked seven hammerheads for 19–96 h at Wolf Island (1.38ºN, 91.82ºW) between 2007 and 2009 using ultrasonic transmitters with depth and temperature sensors, and we profiled temperature through the water column. Movements of individual hammerheads fell in two classes: constrained (remaining near the island) and dispersive (moving offshore to pelagic environments). The central activity space or kernel off the southeast side of Wolf Island was small and common to most, but the area varied among individuals (mean ± SE 0.25 ± 0.2 km2), not exceeding 0.6 km2 for any of the sharks, and not changing significantly between seasons. In general, hammerheads showed preference for the up-current habitat on the eastern side of Wolf Island in both the warm and cold seasons. However, the depth of sharks varied with season, apparently in response to seasonal changes in the vertical structure of temperature. Hammerheads performed frequent vertical excursions above the thermocline during offshore movements and, in general, were observed to prefer temperatures of 23–26 °C found above the thermocline. At times, though individuals moved into the thermocline and made brief dives below it. Our results provided evidence that hammerheads (1) are highly selective of location (i.e., habitat on up-current side of island) and depth (i.e., top of the thermocline) while refuging, where they may carry out essential activities such as cleaning and thermoregulation, and (2) perform exploratory vertical movements by diving the width of the mixed layer and occasionally diving below the thermocline while moving offshore, most likely for foraging.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Galapagos National Park Service and the crews of the M/N Sierra Negra and B/I Tiburón Martillo for providing crucial logistical support for tracking sharks near Wolf Island and in the open ocean. Thanks to the Charles Darwin Research Station and staff of Biomar, especially Matthias Wolff, Roberto Pépolas, and Julio Delgado. Many thanks to Cap. Tito Franco for his dedication, long hours at the helm, and appreciation of our study. Many thanks to Cap. Peter Castillo of the F/M Arrecife, Cap. Andy Angermeyer of the Sea Ranger, and to all tracking volunteers: J. Delgado, R. Pépolas, G. Soler, R. Nebot, M. Calvopiña, P. Martínez, G. Vázquez, N. Trivedi, P. Acosta, Y. Mascarell, V. Linares, Y. Llerena, and T. Chapple. Thanks are due to Hawthorne Beyer (geospatial modeling) for his assistance in the use of the kernel density tool and to E. Melcon for her help on statistical analyses. We would also like to thank the Associate Editor and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions that greatly improved earlier versions of this manuscript. This work was funded by WWF-Galapagos, Conservation International, Galapagos Conservation Trust, Galapagos Conservancy, Lindblad Expeditions, AeroGal, and Shark Diver. JTK was awarded a UC MEXUS-CONACYT fellowship that supported part of his work. Special thanks to Karina Busto for her help in the final edition of this manuscript.

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  1. César Peñaherrera

    Present address: Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

  2. James T. Ketchum

    Present address: Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste and Pelagios Kakunjá, La Paz, BCS, Mexico

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotelemetry Laboratory, Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    James T. Ketchum, Alex Hearn & A. Peter Klimley

  2. Department of Marine Research and Conservation, Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador

    Alex Hearn & César Peñaherrera

  3. Galapagos National Park, Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos, Ecuador

    Eduardo Espinoza

  4. Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California Davis, Bodega Bay, CA, USA

    John L. Largier

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  1. James T. Ketchum
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Correspondence to James T. Ketchum.

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Communicated by J. D. R. Houghton.

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Ketchum, J.T., Hearn, A., Klimley, A.P. et al. Seasonal changes in movements and habitat preferences of the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) while refuging near an oceanic island. Mar Biol 161, 755–767 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-013-2375-5

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