Study
Evidence of social communities in a spatially structured network of a free-ranging shark species
Mourier, Johann; Vercelloni, Julie; Planes, Serge
Animal Behaviour, 2012
Individually identifiable blacktip reef sharks in Moorea were surveyed repeatedly over three years, and their co-occurrence analysed with social network methods that distinguish genuine preferred associations from shared use of the same places.
- Studied in
- Carcharhinus melanopterus
- Sample size
- individually identified blacktip reef sharks tracked over three years
Sharks formed stable, non-random social communities. Preferred associations persisted across years and could not be explained by spatial overlap alone.
What it means
The authors' reading, and ours. Where they differ, that difference is the point.
How the authors put it
Reef sharks maintain structured social communities with preferred companions, rather than aggregating passively at resources.
How NatureHQ reads it
The analytical control is what carries this. Animals that use the same reef will be seen together often, so co-occurrence alone establishes nothing — the network methods exist specifically to subtract that. Persistent preferred associations across years is a different claim from grouping, and it fits with the social learning work: an animal that has stable companions has something to learn from.
- Association is inferred from repeated visual surveys, which sample unevenly.
- One reef species in one location.
- What the associations are for — foraging, safety, mating — is not established.
What this study is used for on NatureHQ
One study can inform several subjects. Here is everywhere this one is cited.
Published by: Elsevier journalsPublished in an Elsevier journal.
doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.11.008
This reference was resolved automatically against Crossref on 2026-08-11.
NatureHQ summarises research in its own words and does not reproduce published text. Reviewed 2026-08-10.