Using Citizen Science And Laser Photogrammetry To Assess Monthly Maturity By Size And Sex Distributions Of Sand Tiger Sharks, Carcharias Taurus, Off Of The North Carolina Coast
Date
2021-05
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Sand tiger sharks, Carcharias taurus, are classified globally as vulnerable by
the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. To better
understand the sand tiger shark population on the US East Coast and especially off the
North Carolina Coast, the Spot A Shark citizen science program was developed by
North Carolina Aquariums. The program relies on citizen scientist scuba divers to take
photographs of sand tiger sharks while diving recreationally. Divers may use a laser
photogrammetry rig with their camera so that shark length measurements can be
collected to determine the maturity status. This project examined the size class and sex
of sharks present off the North Carolina coast throughout the year from images in the
Spot A Shark USA database. The specific aims were to measure shark length using
laser photogrammetry and images from the Spot A Shark USA database, assign
maturity to sharks using previously established length at maturity data, determine sex
for all sharks in the Spot A Shark USA database, and describe the seasonal trends in
sex. Understanding maturity status and sex distributions will provide insight into life
history characteristics for sand tiger sharks in North Carolina.
Description
Keywords
Sand tiger sharks, Citizen science, North Carolina