Journal article
Combining abundance and performance data reveals how temperature regulates coastal occurrences and activity of a roaming apex predator
Global Change Biology, Vol.24(5), pp.1884-1893
2018
Abstract
The redistribution of species has emerged as one of the most pervasive impacts of anthropogenic climate warming, and presents many societal challenges. Understanding how temperature regulates species distributions is particularly important for mobile marine fauna such as sharks given their seemingly rapid responses to warming, and the socio-political implications of human encounters with some dangerous species. The predictability of species distributions can potentially be improved by accounting for temperature's influence on performance, an elusive relationship for most large animals. We combined multi-decadal catch data and bio-logging to show that coastal abundance and swimming performance of tiger sharks Galeocerdo cuvier are both highest at ~22°C, suggesting thermal constraints on performance may regulate this species' distribution. Tiger sharks are responsible for a large proportion of shark bites on humans, and a focus of controversial control measures in several countries. The combination of distribution and performance data moves towards a mechanistic understanding of tiger shark's thermal niche, and delivers a simple yet powerful indicator for predicting the location and timing of their occurrences throughout coastlines. For example, tiger sharks are mostly caught at Australia's popular New South Wales beaches (i.e. near Sydney) in the warmest months, but our data suggest similar abundances will occur in winter and summer if annual sea surface temperatures increase by a further 1-2°C.
Details
- Title
- Combining abundance and performance data reveals how temperature regulates coastal occurrences and activity of a roaming apex predator
- Authors
- Nicholas L Payne (Corresponding Author) - University of RoehamptonCarl G Meyer (Author) - University of Hawaii SystemJames A Smith (Author) - UNSW AustraliaJonathan D R Houghton (Author) - Queen's University BelfastAdam Barnett (Author) - James Cook UniversityBonnie J Holmes (Author) - University of QueenslandItsumi Nakamura (Author) - Nagasaki UniversityYannis P Papastamatiou (Author) - Florida International UniversityMark A Royer (Author) - University of Hawaii SystemDaniel M Coffey (Author) - University of Hawaii SystemJames M Anderson (Author) - University of Hawaii SystemMelanie R Hutchinson (Author) - University of Hawaii SystemKatsufumi Sato (Author) - The University of TokyoLewis G Halsey (Author) - University of Roehampton
- Publication details
- Global Change Biology, Vol.24(5), pp.1884-1893
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- DOI
- 10.1111/gcb.14088
- ISSN
- 1354-1013
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451105802621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Ecology
- Environmental Sciences
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