Sex-based spatial segregation of adult bull sharks,Carcharhinus leucas, in the New Caledonian great lagoon

Adult bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) in New Caledonia exhibit sex-based spatial segregation, with males found exclusively at an oceanic barrier coral reef over 100 km from the nearest river mouth, while females reside in coastal waters. This unusual pattern likely stems from the unique estuarine-marine continuum of the New Caledonian great lagoon. The study, the first to track adult bull sharks in the region using passive acoustic tags, monitored two females for up to 707 days, revealing transient behavior and short-term residency around a coastal reef bay, with movements linked to seasonal river dynamics. These findings challenge traditional assumptions about bull shark habitat preferences and underscore the need for targeted conservation strategies to manage shark-human interactions and protect threatened populations.

Werry, J. M., & Clua, E. (2013). Sex-based spatial segregation of adult bull sharks,Carcharhinus leucas, in the New Caledonian great lagoon. Aquatic Living Resources, 26(4), 281–288. https://doi.org/10.1051/alr/2013063