Monitoring juvenile sicklefin lemon shark Negaprion acutidens in remote marine nurseries using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

ABSTRACT: Understanding spatial and demographic patterns in threatened coastal sharks is essential for effective conservation, yet remote reef systems remain understudied due to logistical constraints. We used dual unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to monitor juvenile Negaprion acutidens around Dongsha Atoll, a no-take marine reserve in the northern South China Sea. Thirteen synchronized UAV surveys were conducted during summer and winter, covering 20 locations categorized into three zones representing different levels of human impact. We quantified seasonal variation in shark abundance, body size, spatial distribution, and environmental drivers using Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs). Results revealed stable overall abundance but strong fine-scale shifts between summer and winter. Northeastern

SUBMITTER: Li CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12552443 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature