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 w

SUBMITTER: Doherty PD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5316944 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature