Project: Biological studies of white sharks at Guadalupe Island, Mexico

Introduction:

White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) represent a critical apex predator in the ocean and are one of the few sharks that routinely prey on marine mammals. The study of this species, however, is complicated by the fact that they are highly mobile and are typically found in remote, inhospitable locations, such as the Farallon Islands off of central California. Recently, interest has focused on Guadalupe Island, Mexico, where the weather and water visibility are conducive to conducting long-term behavioral observations. This area is also of increasing interest to the shark-diving ecotourism industry.

The Biotelemetry Laboratory is currently conducting two studies on different aspects of white shark biology at Guadalupe Island. Please visit the links below to learn more about these studies:

• Movements and behavior of white sharks near a seal colony

• Determining feeding patterns and trophic relationships in white sharks based on stable isotope analysis