Spatiotemporal Patterns of White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) Predation at the South Farallon Islands, California

Abstract

Spatial and temporal records of 146 predatory attacks by white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) on four species of pinnipeds, one bird, and one human at the South Farallon Islands, Central California, from late Aug. to early Dec. 198689 are presented. During each 3.5-mo period, attacks were (1) unevenly distributed in bouts separated by hiatuses in predation, (2) paired temporally within the same day, (3) at similar times and locations on consecutive days, and (4) all during daylight hours. Predation was observed most often within 450 m of shore, with a decrease in attack frequency with increasing depth. Within this high-risk zone, predation was concentrated near coastal departure and entry points of pinnipeds, and the predatory attack positions formed linear patterns leading away from the island. Consecutive predatory attacks were often near each other, yet at times alternated between localities on either side of the island.