Schmidt Conference Center

Speaker: Austin Gallagher, Visiting Scientist        

Title:  The behavioral and reproductive ecology of the largest predator in tropical waters: The tiger shark

Summary: Sharks are among the most threatened vertebrates on the planet due to decades of irresponsible fishing practices. Information on shark migratory and reproductive behavior are needed to understand critical life history regions which can inform their conservation and management. Presented here are results from the longest running behavioral ecology study on large sharks in the NW Atlantic Ocean, focusing on efforts studying the tiger shark at a protected tropical bank in the northern Bahamas. By integrating exciting high-resolution telemetry data with physiological information, the researchers can better predict the life-history of this cryptic species and make ecological links over space and time that underscore the benefits of fishery conservation tools such as place-based management.