Utilization of Passive Acoustic Tracking to Determine Artificial Habitat Use and Movement of Nurse Sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum

Utilization of Passive Acoustic Tracking to Determine Artificial Habitat Use and Movement of Nurse Sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum

The ecological characteristics of many cryptic and evasive marine vertebrates, such as sharks, are widely unknown, largely, due to the inability to efficiently monitor and track them over extended periods of time. Recent advances in ultrasonic acoustic telemetry now allow scientists to collect data on these highly elusive predators more efficiently then ever before. Marine animals, such as the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum, have been observed at artificial reefs, such as sunken vessels, but how long they spend at or near these habitats is unknown. This research aims to determine the habitat use of the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum, at specific artificial reefs, vessel- reefs, and adjacent natural reef areas off Broward County, Florida. Nurse sharks will be captured and an internal radio transmitter will be surgically implanted. VEMCO receivers will be strategically deployed around sunken vessels and natural reefs to create a passive acoustic array or network, which will detect the acoustic pulses from the transmitters when in range. This will allow continuous observations of a number of sharks in a non- invasive manner, and will provide information on their natural behavior and movement patterns.