Effects of Food Provisioning on the Daily Ration and Dive Site Use of Great Hammerhead Sharks, Sphyrna mokarran

Wildlife provisioning is popular, economically valuable, and a rapidly growing part of marine tourism, with great potential to benefit conservation. However, it remains controversial due limited understanding its implications on the behavior ecology target species. In this study, we modeled how various abiotic biotic factors influenced hammerhead sharks’ ( Sphyrna mokarran ) use recreational dive site in Bimini, Bahamas, where shark-feeding has been conducted since 2012. Further, calculated bioenergetic models estimate their daily ration examined if individual sharks fulfilled energetic requirements from food uptake during dives. Between December 2016 May 2017, collected data 104 dives collaboration local operator. Twenty-eight were observed, 11 philopatric (i.e., identified at previous years), 17 new for first time study) individuals. On average, four observed daily, occasionally up nine individuals, some individuals spending more than 2 h attending each dive, consuming 4.75 kg provisioned per returning repeatedly throughout study period. When grouped based experience vs. sharks), found significantly higher attendance indices, i.e., number attended divided by total dives, longer presence times different responses toward boats conspecifics between two groups. Overall, increased bait when present site. Finally, 12 regularly able fuel alone, doing so 77.8% all Our provides insights into large-bodied predators react wildlife tourism associated allows further discussion about energy impacts ecological role species management measures.