JUVENILE LEMON SHARK FORAGING AND DOMINANCE BEHAVIOR 

Lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) are upper trophic-level predators with a crucial ecological role in marine ecosystems. The western Bahamas, specifically the Bimini Island chain, has gained prominence and is widely acclaimed for its extensive catalog of research on this species.  Located 300 kilometers east of Bimini sits the island of Eleuthera which also provides a favorable habitat for lemon sharks due to its diverse marine ecosystems which provide essential foraging and nursery grounds for these predators.  However, minimal studies have been performed on this population of lemon sharks living around Eleuthera.  As an intern for the Cape Eleuthera Institute located on the southern tip of Eleuthera, I focused my work on a local population of Juvenile Lemon Sharks (JLS).  Focusing on a mangrove-dominated creek with the guidance of Dr. Natascha Wosnick, we tagged eight JLS with color-coordinated spaghetti tags. Then, via baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS), we filmed their natural interactions over nine different time trials in July 2023 totaling over 7 hours of footage. Data analysis was conducted by a team of students at Eckerd College using the Behavioral Observation Research Interactive Software (BORIS). An ethogram was then coded looking at different foraging behaviors of the sharks based on size, sex, and personality. Our initial findings show a potential hierarchy of larger and older juveniles in these mangrove communities establishing dominant behavior as well as individuals often being present with sharks of the same size class. 

For more information: kcmcarto@eckerd.edu