A group of scientists has conducted an investigation into the great white sharks of California and why they congregate in what is known as the "white shark cafe."
Every winter, the marine animals make a pilgrimage from the coasts of California and Mexico to the middle of nowhere, somewhere in the mid-Pacific. It takes the sharks about a month to get there and they stay in the area until spring.
This happens yearly like clockwork and scientists still do not know why. The area, as far as they know, is devoid of creatures or habitat that the great white sharks would prefer.
However, researchers from five scientific institutions made their way to the area between Baja California and Hawaii to study the migration and made a startling discovery.
Brimming With Life
The study led by scientists from the Stanford University and Monterey Bay Aquarium found that the area considered to be the "white shark cafe" is not as barren as they initially thought. Instead, the area is brimming with light-sensitive creatures.
Scientists believe that the abundance of fishes and squids that migrate from "mid-water," the region just before complete darkness, is what has lured sharks to make the pilgrimage to the area. They said the discovery could provide valuable information about the life under water and, possibly, climate change.
"The story of the white shark tells you that this area is vitally important in ways we never knew about," stated research scientist Salvador Jorgensen. "They are telling us this incredible story about the mid-water, and there is this whole secret life that we need to know about."
Following The Trail Of Food
The study was conducted back in April and lasted until May, but scientists from Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station have long been following the great white sharks. They began attaching acoustic pinger tags to track the fascinating marine animals 14 years ago.
The team of researchers that followed the sharks to the middle of the Pacific used high-tech satellite monitoring tags with locator beacons that pop off and float to the surface. Scientists were able to obtain data on movement and behavior of the sharks during the cafe event.
The collected tags revealed an unusual diving behavior that scientists say are rarely seen from the great white sharks. During the winter, the marine animals "bounce dive" deep underwater during the day and then swim nearer to the surface at night.
The study found that the shark cafe is filled with tiny phytoplankton, fish, squid, and jellies that move up and down deep underwater in an area that the sunlight does not reach. Other predators such as the big-eye tuna and blue and mako sharks also frequent the area during winter months.
"We found a high diversity of deep-sea fish and squids (over 100 species), which in combination with observations made by the ROV and DNA sequencing, demonstrate a viable trophic pathway to support large pelagic organisms such as sharks and tunas," shared lead researcher Barbara Block.
The study has led to the discovery that the area is diverse and brimming with life. Sea biologist Bruce Robinson said that the research also "provide a benchmark on how to census the open ocean."
