Changes in diving behaviour and habitat use of provisioned whale sharks: implications for management.

ABSTRACT: Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) tourism is increasingly popular at predictable aggregations around the world, but only a few use provisioning to ensure close interactions. Understanding the effects of provisioning on the behaviour of this endangered species is critical to manage this growing industry. We recorded the diving behaviour and habitat use of juvenile whale sharks (n = 4) for a mean of 49.5 provisioned and 33.8 non-provisioned days using temperature-depth-recorders. We found that time spent at the surface (< 2 m) between 6 am and 1 pm increased ~ sixfold, while timing of deep dives shifted from 4-10 am to 10 am-2 pm, i.e. near or at the end of the provisioning activities. The shift might be related to a need to thermoregulate following a prolonged period of time in warmer water. Th

SUBMITTER: Araujo G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7550605 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature