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Multi-year validation of photographic identification of grey nurse sharks, Carcharias taurus , and applications for non-invasive conservation research

Multi-year validation of photographic identification of grey nurse sharks, Carcharias taurus ,... Captive and wild Carcharias taurus were used to assess whether spots present on their flanks were suitable as natural tags for individual shark recognition. Photographic images of seven captive sharks taken at monthly intervals for 14 months and at 3 years after the start of the study indicated that spot numbers, positions and sizes did not change. Eighty-nine wild sharks were photographically re-captured at least once subsequent to their initial image-capture; fourteen were re-photographed at least 23 months subsequent to their initial image-capture and a single individual after 14 years. Unique physical marks (e.g. partial fin loss) on six wild sharks were used to validate the pattern recognition process by providing unambiguous identification of individuals independently of their spots. Preliminary visual identification data on the eastern Australian C. taurus population show how spatial and temporal information on individual sharks can be collected without recourse to conventional tagging to address key questions about this species’ ecology and population biology. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Marine & Freshwater Research CSIRO Publishing

Multi-year validation of photographic identification of grey nurse sharks, Carcharias taurus , and applications for non-invasive conservation research

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Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
Copyright
CSIRO
ISSN
1323-1650
eISSN
1323-1650
DOI
10.1071/MF07184
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Captive and wild Carcharias taurus were used to assess whether spots present on their flanks were suitable as natural tags for individual shark recognition. Photographic images of seven captive sharks taken at monthly intervals for 14 months and at 3 years after the start of the study indicated that spot numbers, positions and sizes did not change. Eighty-nine wild sharks were photographically re-captured at least once subsequent to their initial image-capture; fourteen were re-photographed at least 23 months subsequent to their initial image-capture and a single individual after 14 years. Unique physical marks (e.g. partial fin loss) on six wild sharks were used to validate the pattern recognition process by providing unambiguous identification of individuals independently of their spots. Preliminary visual identification data on the eastern Australian C. taurus population show how spatial and temporal information on individual sharks can be collected without recourse to conventional tagging to address key questions about this species’ ecology and population biology.

Journal

Marine & Freshwater ResearchCSIRO Publishing

Published: May 15, 2008

Keywords: natural marks, photo-identification, spot, tag.

References