Kristian Parton: 'These feeding behaviours show that nurse sharks are adapted to feed on different prey across a variety of habitats'

Underwater cameras have provided insight into the feeding habits of nurse sharks, which reveal their flexibility and skills during feeding activirties. According to a release by the University of Exeter which conducted the study with NGO Beneath the Waves, baited remote underwater video (BRUV) cameras were used off the Turks and Caicos Islands, and found the sharks with habits including vertical feeding, ventral feeding and pectoral positioning.

“These feeding behaviours show that nurse sharks are adapted to feed on different prey across a variety of habitats,” said lead author Kristian Parton, of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall.

The study, titled "Opportunistic camera surveys provide insight into discrete foraging behaviors in nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum)," was published in the journal Environmental Biology of Fishes. The research was conducted with the support of Big Blue Collective, a local organization specializing in ocean exploration and conservation efforts in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The vertical feeding is where the shark is head down, ventral feeding is with the belly up and pectoral positioning involves the shark flexing the pectoral fins in a similar fashion to walking on the sea floor.

The research provides valuable insight into the adaptability and versatility of nurse sharks in their feeding strategies. While most shark species have limited movement in their pectoral fins, nurse sharks are closely related to epaulette sharks, known for their ability to walk on land using these fins. Parton suggests that the footage captured during the study indicates that nurse sharks may exhibit a similar behavior while on the sea floor.

Dr. Oliver Shipley, Senior Research Scientist at Beneath The Waves, highlighted the significance of the research, stating, "This work illustrates the immense behavioral adaptability of coastal shark species. Despite their widespread nature, we know comparatively little about nurse shark behavior relative to other coastal species, so this study provides an important step to further understanding their ecological role." 

Previously, most research about nurse sharks was focused on reproductive behavior, which makes this study a notable contribution to expanding knowledge about nurse sharks' ecological significance. The findings who that nurse sharks play a crucial role in the health and balance of tropical reefs around the world.

These studies provide information needed to identify the behavior and ecological roles of sharks. Understanding their feeding behaviors contributes to the broader understanding of their interactions with tropical reef ecosystem and helps in creating conservation strategies to protect marine habitats. These efforts have opened new ways to research the adaptability of nurse sharks other marine species.