Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Ajemian, Matthew
Abstract
Recent research confirmed white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) nursery habitat off Long Island, New York; however, additional research is required to determine the habitat use and fine-scale movements of young-of-the-year and juvenile white sharks within this nursery. Between 2016 and 2019, twenty-five white sharks were fitted with satellite and acoustic tags to better define habitat use. Individuals exhibited horizontal movements parallel to Long Island’s southern shoreline and coastal New Jersey. Log-likelihood chi-square analyses determined preference for water column depth, SSTs, sea surface salinities, and chlorophyll a concentration. Vertical analysis of diving behavior revealed swimming behavior primarily in the upper 20 m of the water column, in temperatures between 18°C and 20°C. Generalized additive mixed modeling suggested SSTs above 20.5°C affected dive depth. These results can help improve characterization of essential fish habitat for young white sharks and provide data to determine the species’ susceptibility to anthropogenic activities.
Extent
134 p.
Recommended Citation
Shaw, Rachel Lynn, "THREE-DIMENSIONAL MOVEMENT AND HABITAT USE OF YOUNG WHITE SHARKS (CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS) IN THE NORTHWEST ATLANTIC OCEAN" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present. 624.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general/624
Identifier
FA00013440
Comments
Includes bibliography.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.