Video
Global Urban Bull Shark Project
Bull sharks utilise almost all coastal habitats: freshwater, estuarine and nearshore marine waters. Their lifecycle relies on access to all habitats along this continuum (i.e. the freshwater-estuarine-marine continuum). This research project is examining both the long-term and fine-scale movements of bull sharks in man-made canals and natural rivers and estuarine habitats along the east coast of Queensland in order to understand the physical drivers and triggers for their movement both within and between habitats. This program is also undertaking population surveys in urban areas and monitoring the movements of relocated individuals. The impacts of urbanisation on the health of bull shark populations is being monitored using various chemcial techniques.
A 2.8 m Male bull shark after being tagged by Dr. Werry and colleagues in coral reef habitat (photo by Thomas Vignaud)
Currently the movements of 40 + large bull sharks (1.4 to 3 m total length) tagged along the east QLD coast (between Cairns and the Gold Coast) are being monitored with acoustic tags and acoustic receivers deployed in marine and riverine habitats. We will be examining the movements of these large sharks until 2017 for the life of the tags.
See research article: Werry, J.M., Lee S.Y., Otway, N., Hu, Y., Sumpton, W. (2011). A multi-faceted approach for quantifying the estuarine–nearshore transition in the life cycle of the bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas. Marine and Freshwater Research. DOI:10.1071/MF11136.Dr. Werry releasing the tail rope from a 3 m bull shark after tagging
This umbrella research program is also composed of several smaller research projects:
Southern Moreton Bay/Broadwater mega-fauna movement project
This project is examining the fine-scale movements of bull sharks in relation to modelled physical parameters: i.e. hydrology, bathymetry and other physical water parameters and in relation to the fine-scale movements of other marine mega-fauna that use the same habitat.
Sub-adult bull shark before release back into Southern Morteon bay for tracking and Southern Moreton Bay in the evening
Gold Coast canals bull shark research project
The short and long-term movements of bull sharks are being examined in the app. 200km of waterways of the Gold Coast canal system. We are examining the movements in relation to modelled and real time physical water parameters. In addition, population estimates are being done through the ongoing tag and release research.
Gold Coast canals bull shark research project
The short and long-term movements of bull sharks are being examined in the app. 200km of waterways of the Gold Coast canal system. We are examining the movements in relation to modelled and real time physical water parameters. In addition, population estimates are being done through the ongoing tag and release research.
The results of our long-term tracking study of the movements of 24 bull sharks in the Gold Coast canal system will be published soon!
Neonate bull shark captured in the Nerang River, the Gold Coast canals at sunset and aerial view of Surfers Paradise with the Nerang River and adjoining Gold Coast canals inthe background
Queensland (Great Barrier Reef) bull shark satellite tagging program
The long range movements of bull sharks along the east Queensland coast, with a primary focus on the Great Barrier Reef, are being monitored using satellite telemetry. We have satellite tagged a number of very large bull sharks in order to test hypotheses of the drivers of bull shark migrations and their visitation at aggregation sites. This project is being done with the support of the Marine Conservation Science Institute, California.
The long range movements of bull sharks along the east Queensland coast, with a primary focus on the Great Barrier Reef, are being monitored using satellite telemetry. We have satellite tagged a number of very large bull sharks in order to test hypotheses of the drivers of bull shark migrations and their visitation at aggregation sites. This project is being done with the support of the Marine Conservation Science Institute, California.
Dr. Werry with pop-up archival satellite tags placed on sub-adult and adult bull sharks along the Queensland coastline