Adult tiger sharks, as big as cars, swim thousands of miles across the ocean every year, but their migration patterns have been elusive. Scientists have been studying tiger sharks for years, including Dr. Lisa Hoopes, senior director of research and conservation at Georgia Aquarium. Recently, special satellite tags have been used to track their movements to learn where these sharks go and why. A new study, published in the science journal Marine Environment Research, followed 35 of the largest tiger sharks ever monitored (most of them adult females), and what they discovered was astounding.
Super Travelers of the Sea
Tiger sharks are like long-distance ocean explorers. The longest journey recorded in this study was over 17,000 kilometers (10,500 miles) in 468 days—that’s like swimming from New York to Australia!
Despite their long journeys, these sharks exhibit a strong tendency to return to the same place —Norfolk Island, a small island in the Pacific Ocean. Nearly 90% of the tracked sharks revisited this location after their travels.
Why Do They Keep Coming Back?
Scientists found that water temperature plays a big role in when the sharks leave and when they return. Just like birds migrate to warmer places in winter, tiger sharks seem to time their movements based on ocean conditions. The study showed that the sharks usually arrive at Norfolk Island in December and leave around May.
What remains a mystery—and an area for future study—is whether reproductive factors influence their migration patterns.
When not at Norfolk Island, these sharks’ favorite destinations include New Caledonia, the Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, and even New Zealand.
Coastal Areas Are Important for Sharks
Another big discovery in the study was that tiger sharks love hanging out near coastal areas. These places seem to be important for them, possibly because they provide food and shelter.
Scientists now understand that Norfolk Island and other nearshore areas are critical for these tiger sharks, especially large females. Protecting these areas can help ensure these top predators continue to play their important role in the ocean’s ecosystem.
Why Does This Matter?
Sharks are often misunderstood, but they are key players in keeping the ocean healthy. They help control fish populations and keep marine life in balance. Learning about where they go and what influences their movements can help scientists and conservationists protect them.
This research provides new insights into the lives of these incredible ocean wanderers and their secret migration patterns. Thanks to satellite tracking, researchers are finally learning where they go, when, and why.
This study on tiger sharks was done in collaboration and with support from Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, Biopixel Oceans Foundation, Norfolk Island National Park, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, and Georgia Aquarium.
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