#Repost @oneoceanresearch ・・・ As tropical storm Olivia makes it’s approach toward the Hawaiian islands many are making preparations for the storm, but how do these severe weather events impact sharks? There are a limited number of studies on this topic in the scientific literature, however, studies from easier to access and study coastal ecosystems provide some insight as to how other shark species may respond. Observations for five different coastal shark species were monitored with the use of passive #AcousticTelemetry before and after 3 tropical storm events in Australia and the US. They observed a short term flight behavior in 4 species leaving their coastal bay environments prior to the storms. The synchronized timing flight response suggests that the sharks could detect and interpret the subtle changes in conditions avoid impacts of physical disturbance such as increased sedimentation, storm surges or large waves. Interestingly, this response was also observed in juveniles that had not experienced these conditions before suggesting the behavioral response is innate (Udyawer et al. 2013). Another study found that a population of blacktip sharks responded to approaching tropical storm Gabrielle by moving to deeper water with movements triggered by a drop in #BarometricPressure associated with the approach of the storm (Heupel et al. 2003) Data from @ocearch’s global shark tracker program are also consistent with these observations, as an area one of their tagged white sharks was frequently detected in coincided with a 6 day gap in detections in association with Hurricane Sandy in 2012 indicating the shark may have stayed deep to avoid the storm, but it’s also possible that the environmental conditions inhibited transmissions to satellites. Data collection and surveying our shark populations here off the north shore prior to and following these extreme weather events is always interesting, if you are coming out in the near future be sure to ask your biologist about current trends, variables, and how shark behavior changes in relation to environmental conditions and quantifiable qualitative variables. Video by @nani.moana https://www.instagram.com/p/BnrYK5Qh9mc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=179zwr8kelepb
