Ontogenetic shifts in space use and habitat selection of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) in The Bahamas.

ABSTRACT: Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) display notable variation in behavior, movement patterns, and habitat use, which reflects ontogenetic shifts in diet and access to habitat types. In this study, we analyzed a comprehensive five-year dataset (2018-2023) of acoustically tagged tiger sharks (n = 39) across two island regions in The Bahamas. Network analysis revealed life-stage-specific differences in space use and habitat selection, with a significant correlation between motility (measured as edge density within arrays) and shark size (fork length, FL). Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) indicated that female sub-adult tiger sharks (225-250 cm FL) exhibited broader and more interconnected movements than juvenile and mature sharks, which were closely associated with shallow seagrass habitats. F

SUBMITTER: Ayres KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12574918 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature