Poster Presentation Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Meeting 2023

Feeding pattern variations in captive pregnant and non-pregnant Carcharias taurus (#354)

Lauren R Campbell 1 , Alexis Levengood 1 , Oliver Underwood 2 , Bonnie J Holmes 1
  1. School of Science, Technology & Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
  2. SEA LIFE, Mooloolaba, QLD, Australia

Carcharias taurus are popular in public aquaria due to their ability to thrive in captive settings. Breeding programs in captivity however are largely unsuccessful, due to a limited understanding of the biological and environmental parameters required for successful pregnancies. This study utilised feeding and water temperature data of two groups of C. taurus obtained from SeaLife Mooloolaba, and associated pregnancy data obtained from Willson & Smith (2017), to determine feeding variations between female of differing pregnancy status. Overall, feeding patterns between pregnant and non-pregnant sharks showed similar trends across months, with decreases in feeding rates observed in the warmer months. However, fish consumption overall was higher in non-pregnant sharks regardless of temperature, and significantly reduced feeding rates were observed once females became pregnant. This co-insides with wild C. taurus studies suggesting females reduce food intake prior to parturition, living off lipids stored in their livers during this time. Further, water temperature seems to play a critical role in successful breeding in this species, with wild C. taurus documented to move to cooler waters for parturition. A better understanding of the energy requirements and temperature shifts are needed for the successful management of breeding programs of C. taurus within aquaria.