Document of bibliographic reference 283606

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Long-term satellite tracking reveals variable seasonal migration strategies of basking sharks in the north-east Atlantic

Abstract

Animal migration is ubiquitous in nature with individuals within a population often exhibiting varying movement strategies. The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the world’s second largest fish species, however, a comprehensive understanding of their long-term wider-ranging movements in the north-east Atlantic is currently lacking. Seventy satellite tags were deployed on basking sharks over four years (2012–2015) off the west coast of Scotland and the Isle of Man. Data from 28 satellite tags with attachment durations of over 165 days reveal post-summer ranging behaviours. Tagged sharks moved a median minimum straight-line distance of 3,633 km; achieving median displacement of 1,057 km from tagging locations. Tagged individuals exhibited one of three migration behaviours: remaining in waters of UK, Ireland and the Faroe Islands; migrating south to the Bay of Biscay or moving further south to waters off the Iberian Peninsula, and North Africa. Sharks used both continental shelf areas and oceanic habitats, primarily in the upper 50–200 m of the water column, spanning nine geo-political zones and the High Seas, demonstrating the need for multi-national cooperation in the management of this species across its range.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000394324400001

Bibliographic citation

Doherty, P.D.; Baxter, J.M.; Gell, F.R.; Godley, B.J.; Graham, R.T.; Hall, G.; Hall, J.; Hawkes, L.A.; Henderson, S.M.; Johnson, L.; Speedie, C. (2017). Long-term satellite tracking reveals variable seasonal migration strategies of basking sharks in the north-east Atlantic. NPG Scientific Reports 7(42837): 10 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep42837

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true