Article Summary:

A recently published study in the journal Animal Behavior provides evidence of the existence of social communities within a given network of a free-ranging shark species. The report’s authors, Johann Mourier, Julie Vercelloni and Serge Planes have produced association data for blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) via photo identification surveys conducted at the Moorea coral reefs in French Polynesia. This data demonstrates evidence of four main communities and two sub communities within the population. The study concludes:

“That the observed grouping patterns not only resulted from passive aggregations for specific resources, but rather the communities developed from an active choice of individuals as a sign of sociability.”