The Biology of Tiger Sharks, Galeocerdo Cuvier, in Shark Bay, Western Australia: Sex Ratio, Size Distribution, Diet, and Seasonal Changes in Catch Rates
@article{Heithaus2004TheBO, title={The Biology of Tiger Sharks, Galeocerdo Cuvier, in Shark Bay, Western Australia: Sex Ratio, Size Distribution, Diet, and Seasonal Changes in Catch Rates}, author={Michael R. Heithaus}, journal={Environmental Biology of Fishes}, year={2004}, volume={61}, pages={25-36} }
Tiger sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier, are apex predators in a variety of nearshore ecosystems throughout the world. This study investigates the biology of tiger sharks in the shallow seagrass ecosystem of Shark Bay, Western Australia. Tiger sharks (n = 252) were the most commonly caught species (94%) compared to other large sharks. Tiger sharks ranged from 148–407 cm TL. The overall sex ratio was biased towards females (1.8 : 1), but the sex ratio of mature animals (> 300 cm TL) did not differ from…
Figures and Tables from this paper
186 Citations
Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) abundance and growth in a subtropical embayment: evidence from 7 years of standardized fishing effort
- Environmental Science
- 2006
The data suggest that (1) the threat of predation faced by animals consumed by tiger sharks fluctuates dramatically within and between years, and (2) efforts to monitor large shark abundance should be extensive enough to detect inter-annual variation and sufficiently intensive to account for intra-ann annual trends.
Feeding habits of the tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, in the northwest Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico
- Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Biology of Fishes
- 2017
Diet was assessed from 169 tiger sharks by life stage, area, and environmental factors, and fifteen prey groups were identified, with teleosts, molluscs, birds, cephalopods, and reptiles being the predominant prey categories.
The trophic role of a large marine predator, the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier
- Environmental ScienceScientific Reports
- 2017
The trophic role of tiger sharks is therefore both context- and habitat-dependent, consistent with a generalist, opportunistic diet at the population level.
Size, Sex And Geographic Variation in the Diet of the Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo Cuvier, From Western Australian Waters
- Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Biology of Fishes
- 2004
The high level of occurrence of dugongs and turtles in the diet of G. cuvier, relative to their abundance, suggests that shark predation may play an important role in regulating populations of these species.
The biology and ecology of the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) on the east coast of Australia
- Environmental Science
- 2015
This thesis aims to demonstrate the efforts towards in-situ applicability of EMMARM, as to provide real-time information about the concrete mechanical properties of EMTs and their applications to the physical sciences.
Growth and Maximum Size of Tiger Sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) in Hawaii
- Environmental SciencePloS one
- 2014
Tiger shark growth rates and maximum sizes in Hawaii are generally consistent with those in other regions, and it is hypothesized that a broad diet may help them to achieve this rapid growth by maximizing prey consumption rates.
Regional variation in tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) abundance and habitat use
- Environmental Science
- 2010
The results suggest that large predator abundance and habitat use may vary over relatively small spatial scales and that such variation may be useful for elucidating their ecological interests.
Diet and trophic ecology of the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) from South African waters
- Environmental SciencePloS one
- 2017
This study presents the longest time-series and most detailed analysis of stomach content data for G. cuvier worldwide to improve the accuracy of regional food web modelling and enable a better understanding of the ecological impacts related to changes in the abundance of this predator.
Vertical Movement Patterns and Ontogenetic Niche Expansion in the Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier
- Environmental SciencePloS one
- 2015
A clear ontogenetic expansion in the vertical range of tiger shark habitat was observed, with generalized linear models estimating a ~4-fold increase in maximum diving depth from 150- to 300-cm size-classes.
Declining trends in annual catch rates of the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) in Queensland, Australia
- Environmental Science
- 2012
References
SHOWING 1-10 OF 14 REFERENCES
Size, Sex And Geographic Variation in the Diet of the Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo Cuvier, From Western Australian Waters
- Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Biology of Fishes
- 2004
The high level of occurrence of dugongs and turtles in the diet of G. cuvier, relative to their abundance, suggests that shark predation may play an important role in regulating populations of these species.
Biology of Tiger Sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) caught by the Queensland Shark Meshing Program off Townsville, Australia
- Environmental Science
- 1992
There was no apparent decrease in the population size of G. cuvier in the Townsville area as a result of the long-term catching of sharks by the protective meshing programme, and the sex ratio of juveniles and adults favoured females, with few adult males being caught.
Ontogenetic dietary shifts and feeding behavior of the tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, in Hawaiian waters
- Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Biology of Fishes
- 2004
Comparisons between the diets of tiger sharks from Hawaii and other locations indicate that ontogenetic shifts are universal in this species and that tiger sharks may be opportunistic feeders that prey heavily on abundant, easy to capture prey.
Movements of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) in coastal Hawaiian waters
- Environmental Science
- 1999
The data suggest that Hawaiian tiger sharks move within large home ranges and that they can efficiently navigate between distant parts of their range, even when this requires crossing open ocean waters.
Distribution and Abundance of Dugongs, Turtles, Dolphins and other Megafauna in Shark Bay, Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia
- Environmental Science
- 1997
Examination of strip-transect aerial surveys of Shark Bay, Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth Gulf during the winters of 1989 and 1994 found that expansion of the Shark Bay Marine Park would facilitate the appropriate management of these populations.
Biological observations on sharks caught by sport fishermen off New South Wales
- Environmental Science
- 1984
Between 1979 and 1982, 523 sharks representing four families and 13 species were examined from sport fishing catches off New South Wales, and, apart from C. falciformis, all of these appear to have restricted breeding seasons.
Impacts of dugong foraging on seagrass habitats: observational and experimental evidence for cultivation grazing
- Biology
- 1995
The species composition of seagrass meadows can be altered by intensive grazing, which favours rapidly growing, early pioneer species, such as Halophila ovalis, at the expense of slower growing but dominant species such as Zostera capricorni.
Seagrass distribution and seasonal biomass changes in relation to dugong grazing in the Moluccas, East Indonesia
- Environmental Science
- 1995
Fishes of the Western North Atlantic
- HistoryNature
- 1949
FROM the time of its appearance half a century ago, Jordan and Everyman's "Fishes of North and Middle America"has until to-day remained the only comprehensive descriptive account of the fishes of the…
Food Web Complexity and Species Diversity
- Environmental ScienceThe American Naturalist
- 1966
It is suggested that local animal species diversity is related to the number of predators in the system and their efficiency in preventing single species from monopolizing some important, limiting,…