Drivers of Daily Routines in an Ectothermic Marine Predator: Hunt Warm, Rest Warmer?

ABSTRACT: Animal daily routines represent a compromise between maximizing foraging success and optimizing physiological performance, while minimizing the risk of predation. For ectothermic predators, ambient temperature may also influence daily routines through its effects on physiological performance. Temperatures can fluctuate significantly over the diel cycle and ectotherms may synchronize behaviour to match thermal regimes in order to optimize fitness. We used bio-logging to quantify activity and body temperature of blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) at a tropical atoll. Behavioural observations were used to concurrently measure bite rates in herbivorous reef fishes, as an index of activity for potential diurnal prey. Sharks showed early evening peaks in activity, particularly duri

SUBMITTER: Papastamatiou YP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4489509 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature