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Both Environmental Conditions and Intra- and Interspecific Interactions Influence the Movements of a Marine Predator
Johann Mourier1, Marc Soria1, Matthew Silk2,3,4
1MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, IRD Sète France.
Ecology and Evolution
|December 2, 2024
Summary
Understanding bull shark movements reveals that social interactions, not just environment, significantly influence their paths. This research uses network analysis to map animal behavior and inform conservation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Animal Behavior
- Network Analysis
Background:
- Animal movements are complex, influenced by various environmental factors.
- Understanding these movements is crucial for wildlife research and conservation efforts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze bull shark movement networks using acoustic receiver data.
- To identify the influence of environmental, social, and other covariates on bull shark movements.
Main Methods:
- Application of Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGMs).
- Analysis of movement networks from acoustic telemetry data of bull sharks.
Main Results:
- Intra- and interspecific factors demonstrated stronger effects on bull shark movements than environmental variables.
- ERGMs effectively analyzed animal movement network data with spatial heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- Social interactions play a significant role in shaping bull shark movements.
- ERGMs are a valuable tool for studying complex animal movement patterns in heterogeneous environments.
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