ABSTRACT

The spatiotemporal patterns of nearly 2,600 predatory interactions between White Sharks and Cape Fur Seals at Seal Island, South Africa were studied. These data, in addition to previously reported data from this site, were compared against published patterns of White Sharkpinniped interactions at sites in California. In the present study, similarities between Seal Island and Californian sites identi¢ed included pinniped age class (juvenile), highest attack frequency versus distance from island (<400 m), tidal state (high), and depth range (5-50 m). However, many factors signi¢cantly affecting White Shark frequency and success rates of attack differed between Seal Island versus California sites, including seasonal distribution (winter versus autumn), mean frequency of attacks (6.7 per day versus 0.7 per day), prey capture success rate (48% versus 64%), size of attacking sharks (2.1-4.5 m versus 3.5-5.9 m), prey mass (low versus high), timing of attacks (frequency greatest early morning versus all day), wind direction (Northerly versus not signi¢cant), and light levels (low versus indiscriminate). The factors affecting White Shark predatory success have been reported from Seal Island, but not from the California sites. These similarities and differences are discussed in terms of prey characteristics and environmental factors at each site. Our results suggest that factors affecting White Shark predatory behavior and success rate are likely prey-and site-speci¢c.