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Ultrasonic tracking of Greenland sharks, Somniosus microcephalus, under Arctic ice

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Abstract

Six Greenland sharks, Somniosus microcephalus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801), 190–355 cm fork length, were tracked under land-fast sea ice off northern Baffin Island (73.2°N; 85.3°W) between 16 and 28 May 1999, using ultrasonic telemetry. The sharks were tracked continuously for periods of 5.5–13.0 h, with the tracks of two individuals lasting 31.4 and 42.8 h, respectively, each with an interval when the track was lost. Several sharks dove after release and moved along the ocean bottom for the duration of the tracking period, while others varied their movements regarding course and depth. Two sharks made repeated visits to within 11 m of the ice–water interface from deeper water. The tracked sharks exhibited no apparent depth or temperature preferences, and pooled data indicated that sharks remained deep during the morning and gradually moved into shallower depths through the afternoon and night. Rates of descent (average=0.099 m s−1) were significantly greater than rates of ascent (average=0.058 m s−1) for all sharks, and the average rate of horizontal movement over ground was estimated as 0.215 m s−1. Based on the movements of tracked sharks and information contained in the literature, S. microcephalus may prey on seals in areas covered by land-fast sea ice.

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Acknowledgements

We thank N. Caloyianis (Caloyianis Productions) for organizing the trip and field support; N. Caloyianis, N. Konstantinou, and J. O’Donnell for field assistance; A. Tunraluk and O. Naqitarvik for field guidance; C. Berger, J. Benz, and F. May for logistic support; staff at the Nunavut Research Institute, staff at the Nunavut Impact Review Board, D. Wright, L. de March, and other staff members at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, staff at Spectrum Management Division of Industry Canada, staff at the Canadian Hydrographic Service, the Arctic Bay Hunters and Trappers Association, and the Arctic Bay Hamlet for assistance with logistics and permits; I. Gjertz for translating literature; and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and the Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute for laboratory support. This work was executed under scientific research license 0202099N-A issued by the Nunavut Research Institute to G.W.B. Special thanks are extended to the Elga and Peter Gimbel Foundation and Survival Anglia for financial support that made this research possible; partial support for this study also stemmed from the Sportfish Restoration Act. This is Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries contribution no. 10.

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  1. G. W. Benz

    Present address: Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, P.O. Box 60, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA

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  1. Martha’s Vineyard Research Station, Division of Marine Fisheries of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, P.O. Box 68, Vineyard Haven, MA, 02568, USA

    G. B. Skomal

  2. Tennessee Aquarium and Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute, One Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN, 37401, USA

    G. W. Benz

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  1. G. B. Skomal
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Correspondence to G. B. Skomal.

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Communicated by J.P. Grassle, New Brunswick

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Skomal, G.B., Benz, G.W. Ultrasonic tracking of Greenland sharks, Somniosus microcephalus, under Arctic ice. Marine Biology 145, 489–498 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1332-8

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