At the Turn of the Tide: Space Use and Habitat Partitioning in Two Sympatric Shark Species Is Driven by Tidal Phase

Lea, J.S.E., Humphries, N.E., Bortoluzzi, J., Daly, R., von Brandis, R., Patel, E., Clarke, C.R., Sims, D.W.

Frontiers in Marine Science (2020)

Summary: This study explores the influence of tidal cycles on the spatial behaviour of two sympatric reef shark species. Using high-resolution acoustic telemetry, researchers identified significant temporal and spatial niche partitioning driven by tidal phases. These findings suggest that tide-mediated foraging and habitat access play crucial roles in maintaining species coexistence and minimizing competitive overlap. The research contributes to a better understanding of diel and tidal behavioural patterns in reef sharks and has implications for refining temporal management strategies, particularly in regions where human activity varies predictably with tidal accessibility.

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