A quantification of behavioral patterns in sand tigers Carcharias taurus at four North Carolina shipwrecks

Sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus) aggregate at shipwrecks along the North Carolina coast,&nbsp;<br />yet their behavioral patterns at these artificial reefs remain poorly understood. This study&nbsp;<br />quantifies sand tiger shark movement and activity at four shipwreck sites, comparing daytime&nbsp;<br />and nighttime behavioral observations. A total of 56 sharks were recorded, with 30 observed&nbsp;<br />during the day and 26 at night. Analyses revealed significant differences in behavior based on&nbsp;<br />time of day. During daylight hours, sharks exhibited higher activity levels, as indicated by&nbsp;<br />increased tail beat frequency and movement away from the wrecks into open areas such as the&nbsp;<br />sand and water column. In contrast, nighttime observations showed sharks in closer proximity to&nbsp;<br />the wreck structure, with reduced tail beat frequency, suggesting lower activity levels. Statistical&nbsp;<br />analyses, including chi-square tests and t-tests, confirmed that time of day significantly&nbsp;<br />influenced both spatial distribution and movement patterns. These findings contrast with&nbsp;<br />previous studies suggesting nocturnal activity optimization in poikilothermic predators,&nbsp;<br />highlighting the potential role of artificial reefs in modifying shark behavior. The results&nbsp;<br />emphasize the ecological importance of shipwrecks for sand tiger sharks, potentially serving as&nbsp;<br />shelter sites or influencing social behaviors. Given the species&rsquo; critically endangered status and&nbsp;<br />site fidelity to shipwreck habitats, conservation efforts should prioritize the protection of these&nbsp;<br />artificial reefs. Continued monitoring and research, including collaborations with citizen science&nbsp;<br />initiatives, will be essential for informing conservation strategies and understanding the long<br />term behavioral ecology of sand tiger sharks in North Carolina waters.&nbsp;