Environmental and Protection Effects of Shark‐Companion Associations Across Three Ocean Basins
Jett K Walker, Jessica J Meeuwig, Christopher D H Thompson · 2026
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Description
Walker, Meeuwig, and Thompson counted the small fish and animals that ride along with sharks, in a 2026 Ecology and Evolution study. These companions gain protection, food scraps, or free transport from their hosts, and losing a host can drag its companions down too. Using records from baited underwater cameras across three ocean basins, the team examined seven shark species.
Almost half of the individual sharks carried at least one companion. Australian blacktip sharks hosted companions most often, and scalloped hammerheads least. Warmth, salinity, wind, and distance from shore predicted companion presence best. Partly protected waters raised the odds of companions, while the strictest reserves held more companions per shark when they appeared.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Jett K Walker, Jessica J Meeuwig, Christopher D H Thompson |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 61 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |