Movements and habitat use of a nursery area by a wide-ranging species of shark in the southern Caribbean

Use of a small tropical nursery in the Los Roques Archipelago by lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) was investigated using acoustic telemetry. Twelve lemon sharks (six female, six male, three each of age classes 0+, 1+, and 2+) were tracked between February 2014 and August 2015 in the Sebastopol Lagoon. Sharks were strongly site attached and remained in the lagoon for the duration of the study. Age 0+ individuals largely restricted their movements within the innermost area of the lagoon in shallow water (< 1 m), over muddy substrate and along mangrove-lined shores. Ages 1+ and 2+ sharks ranged further, in deeper water, over a wider range of substrates and more frequently to areas near the lagoon entrance. Activity space (home range = 95% kernel utilization densities - KUD) was 0.42, 1.11 and 1.15 km2 for age 0+, 1+ and 2+ sharks respectively. Core area (50% KUD) was 0.13, 0.33 and 0.35 km2 for age 0+, 1+ and 2+ sharks respectively. MCP overlap between ages 1+ and 2+ was 89%, in contrast to smaller overlap between ages 0+ and 1+ (40%) and 0+ and 2+ (43%). Abundance of potential prey was greatest along mangroves fringes, decreasing from the innermost lagoon to entrance. Space use of lemon sharks within nurseries of variable characteristics illustrates a consistent balancing of selective pressures on predator avoidance and prey acquisition among inconsistent nursery habitats. Understanding nursery area use aids informed management of lemon shark populations and incorporation of species-wide life history traits for sustainable management practices.