Earlier this year, a remarkable video of a newborn great white shark captured by a flying drone made waves on social media. Now, marine scientists have revealed groundbreaking findings about the behavior of juvenile great white sharks, shedding light on their habitat preferences and movements. The study, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, marks a significant step in understanding the conservation needs of these iconic predators, especially in the face of climate change.

In a pioneering study off Padaro Beach near Santa Barbara in central California, researchers observed that baby great white sharks, also known as “pups,” and juveniles congregate in near-shore “nurseries,” unaccompanied by adult sharks. This behavior, rarely seen in other locations, has provided valuable insights into how environmental conditions influence the movements of these young sharks.

To unravel the mysteries of these juvenile sharks, the research team, led by senior author Dr. Christopher Lowe from The California State University, tagged 22 juveniles with sensor transmitters. These tags measured local water pressure and temperature in real-time, allowing the researchers to track the sharks’ positions using acoustic signals. The study revealed that the young sharks preferred warm and shallow waters, staying within one kilometer of shore.

The findings also highlighted the sharks’ dynamic movements in response to temperature changes. The juveniles dived to greater depths during dawn and dusk, likely foraging on various marine species, and moved closer to the surface in the afternoon to regulate their body temperature. This behavior, influenced by the thermal structure of the water column, provides crucial insights into the sharks’ thermoregulatory strategies and habitat preferences.

While the study has provided valuable information about the habitat use and movements of juvenile great white sharks, further research is needed to understand the full range of factors influencing their behavior, including prey distribution, behavior, and competition. These findings significantly affect the conservation and management of great white sharks, offering a deeper understanding of their ecological needs in the changing oceans.

References

• Frontiers. (2024, April 19). Baby white sharks prefer being closer to shore, scientists find. Phys.Org; Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2024-04-baby-white-sharks-closer-shore.html

• Spurgeon, E., Thompson, M. L., Alexander, M. D., Anderson, J. M., Rex, P. T., Stirling, B., Abbott, K., & Lowe, C. G. (2024). The influence of micro-scale thermal habitat on the movements of juvenile white sharks in their Southern California aggregation sites. Frontiers in Marine Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1290769