Influence of Environmental Factors on Prey Discrimination of Bait-Attracted White Sharks from Gansbaai, South Africa

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Predator–prey interactions can be influenced by environmental factors and depend on the sensory capabilities of a predator and its prey. Environmental factors influence the prey discrimination of white sharks in Gansbaai during their passive prey predatory behavior. Tide range is the most important factor that influences the white sharks’ prey choice, followed by underwater visibility, water temperature, and sea conditions. With high tide, better underwater visibility, cooler water temperature, and better sea conditions, sharks choose the energetical richer prey, the seal-shaped decoy, instead of the tuna bait. This study confirms the importance of visual ability in mature and immature white sharks with dietary shifts in their feeding pattern. ABSTRACT: The influence of environmental factors on prey discrimination of bait-attracted white sharks was studied over a six-year period (2008–2013) at Dyer Island Nature Reserve (Gansbaai, South Africa). Across 240 bait-attracted feeding events observed in this period, both immature and mature white sharks were attracted by the seal-shaped decoy rather than the tuna bait, except for the years 2008 and 2011. Tide ranges, underwater visibility, water temperature, and sea conditions were, in decreasing order, the factors which drove white sharks to select the seal-shaped decoy. High tide lowered the minimum depth from which sharks could approach seals close to the shore, while extended visibility helped the sharks in making predatory choices towards the more energy-rich prey source, the odorless seal-shaped decoy. On the contrary, warmer water is associated with an increase in phytoplankton that reduces underwater visibility and increases the diversity of teleosts including tuna—a known prey of white sharks—driving the sharks to favor the tuna bait. Overall, sea conditions were almost always slightly rough, ensuring a good average underwater visibility. Recommendations for future research work at this site are presented.