Climate-resilient pathways: Mapping high-resolution 3D habitat connectivity of pelagic sharks under ocean warming and deoxygenation

Objective

Climate-driven ocean warming and deoxygenation are altering pelagic habitats and reshaping marine ecosystems, yet the behavioural responses of large migratory species remain poorly quantified in three dimensions. SharkPath will pioneer the use of a next-generation biologging tag that integrates high-resolution oxygen and temperature sensing to investigate the fine-scale vertical and horizontal movements of whale sharks. The resulting high-resolution environmental-behavioural dataset will support the development of novel 3D species distribution models that explicitly incorporate physiological thresholds. By linking behaviour to shifting thermal and oxygen landscapes at the long-term highest resolution yet, these models will improve predictions of climate-driven habitat shifts, identify ecological corridors, and quantify collision risks with shipping for an endangered marine species. By combining biologging, movement ecology, and spatial modelling, SharkPath addresses a key environmental and technological gap, providing critical evidence for transboundary marine spatial planning and conservation of pelagic megafauna under future climate scenarios. These insights will uncover critical migratory corridors and support the design of transboundary, climate-resilient conservation strategies in hotspots such as Cabo Verde and the Gulf of Guinea. Aligning with the BBNJ Agreement and the UN 30×30 biodiversity goal, SharkPath will fill key technological and ecological gaps to safeguard pelagic connectivity in a rapidly changing ocean.