Editing Great white shark (section)

== Distribution and habitat ==
[[File:Carcharodon carcharias.jpg|thumb|Shark in [[Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve]], [[Mexico]]]]

Great white sharks live in almost all coastal and offshore waters which have water temperature between {{cvt|12|and|24|C|0}}, with greater concentrations in the United States ([[Northeastern United States|Northeast]] and [[California]]), South Africa, Japan, [[Oceania]], Chile, and the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] including the [[Sea of Marmara]] and [[Bosphorus]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.ncf.ca/bz050/wsdistro.html |title=Areal Distribution of the White Shark |publisher=National Capital Freenet |access-date=16 October 2010 |archive-date=10 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010200553/http://web.ncf.ca/bz050/wsdistro.html |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kabasakal |first1=H. |year=2014 |title=The status of the great white shark (''Carcharodon carcharias'') in Turkey's waters |url=http://elasmollet.org/PublicationsOthers/Kabasakal2014_WS_Turkey.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616052627/http://elasmollet.org/PublicationsOthers/Kabasakal2014_WS_Turkey.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2015 |url-status=usurped |journal=Marine Biodiversity Records |volume=7 |doi=10.1017/S1755267214000980 |doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |bibcode=2014MBdR....7E.109K}}</ref> One of the densest-known populations is found around [[Gansbaai, Western Cape|Dyer Island, South Africa]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://journals.co.za/content/wild/36/1/EJC117231 |title=Seabird predation by white shark, ''Carcharodon carcharias'', and Cape fur seal, ''Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus'', at Dyer Island |journal=South African Journal of Wildlife Research |date=April 2006 |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=23–32 |access-date=22 May 2017 |last1=Johnson |first1=R. L. |last2=Venter |first2=A. |last3=Bester |first3=M. N. |last4=Oosthuizen |first4=W. H. |archive-date=21 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721080124/http://journals.co.za/content/wild/36/1/EJC117231 |url-status=live}}</ref> Juvenile great white sharks inhabit a more narrow band of temperatures, between {{cvt|14|and|24|C|0}}, in shallow coastal nurseries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=White |first1=Connor F. |last2=Lyons |first2=Kady |last3=Jorgensen |first3=Salvador J. |last4=O'Sullivan |first4=John |last5=Winkler |first5=Chuck |last6=Weng |first6=Kevin C. |last7=Lowe |first7=Christopher G. |date=8 May 2019 |title=Quantifying habitat selection and variability in habitat suitability for juvenile white sharks |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=14 |issue=5 |pages=e0214642 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0214642 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=6505937 |pmid=31067227 |bibcode=2019PLoSO..1414642W |doi-access=free}}</ref> Increased observation of young sharks in areas they were not previously common, such as [[Monterey Bay]] on the [[Central California]] coast, suggest climate change may be reducing the range of juvenile great white sharks and shifting it toward the poles.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tanaka |first1=Kisei R. |last2=Van Houtan |first2=Kyle S. |last3=Mailander |first3=Eric |last4=Dias |first4=Beatriz S. |last5=Galginaitis |first5=Carol |last6=O’Sullivan |first6=John |last7=Lowe |first7=Christopher G. |last8=Jorgensen |first8=Salvador J. |date=9 February 2021 |title=North Pacific warming shifts the juvenile range of a marine apex predator |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=3373 |doi=10.1038/s41598-021-82424-9 |pmid=33564038 |pmc=7873075 |bibcode=2021NatSR..11.3373T |issn=2045-2322}}</ref>

The great white is an [[Pelagic zone|epipelagic]] fish, observed mostly in the presence of rich game, such as [[fur seal]]s (''Arctocephalus'' ssp.), [[sea lion]]s, [[cetacean]]s, other sharks, and large bony fish species. In the open ocean, it has been recorded at depths as great as {{cvt|1200|m|ft}}.<ref name="deep" /> These findings challenge the traditional notion that the great white is a coastal species.<ref name="deep" />

According to a recent study, [[California]] great whites have migrated to an area between [[Baja California Peninsula]] and [[Hawaii]] known as the [[White Shark Café]] to spend at least 100 days before migrating back to Baja. On the journey out, they swim slowly and dive down to around {{cvt|900|m|ft}}. After they arrive, they change behaviour and do short dives to about {{cvt|300|m|ft}} for up to ten minutes. Another white shark that was tagged off the South African coast swam to the southern coast of Australia and back within the year. A similar study tracked a different great white shark from South Africa swimming to Australia's northwestern coast and back, a journey of {{cvt|20000|km|mi nmi}} in under nine months.<ref name="WSharkTrust">{{cite web |url=http://www.whitesharktrust.org/migration/main.html |publisher=White Shark Trust |title=South Africa – Australia – South Africa |access-date=11 September 2008 |archive-date=4 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222658/http://www.whitesharktrust.org/migration/main.html |url-status=usurped}}</ref>
These observations argue against traditional theories that white sharks are coastal territorial predators, and open up the possibility of interaction between shark populations that were previously thought to have been discrete. The reasons for their migration and what they do at their destination is still unknown. Possibilities include seasonal feeding or mating.<ref name="LATimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-sep-29-sp-outdoors29-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |title=The Great White Way |access-date=1 October 2006 |first=Pete |last=Thomas |date=29 September 2006 |archive-date=18 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618085611/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/sep/29/sports/sp-outdoors29 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the Northwest Atlantic, the white shark populations off the New England coast were nearly eradicated due to over-fishing.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Curtis |first1=Tobey |last2=McCandless |first2=Camilla |last3=Carlson |first3=John |last4=Skomal |first4=Gregory |last5=Kohler |first5=Nancy |last6=Natanson |first6=Lisa |last7=Burgess |first7=George |last8=Hoey |first8=John |last9=Pratt |first9=Harold |date=June 2014 |title=Seasonal Distribution and Historic Trends in Abundance of White Sharks, ''Carcharodon carcharias'', in the Western North Atlantic Ocean |url=https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/qb/curtis-et-al-2014_0.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003170214/https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/qb/curtis-et-al-2014_0.pdf |archive-date=3 October 2017 |url-status=live |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=9 |issue=6 |pages=12 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0099240 |pmid=24918579 |pmc=4053410 |bibcode=2014PLoSO...999240C|doi-access=free}}</ref> In recent years, the populations have grown greatly,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/more-150-great-white-sharks-spotted-cape-cod-massachusetts-june-n1038591 |title=More than 150 great white sharks sightings logged off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, since June |last=Fieldstadt |first=Elisha |date=2 August 2019 |website=NBC News |access-date=5 August 2019 |archive-date=5 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805215121/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/more-150-great-white-sharks-spotted-cape-cod-massachusetts-june-n1038591 |url-status=live}}</ref> largely due to the increase in seal populations on [[Cape Cod]], [[Massachusetts]] since the enactment of the [[Marine Mammal Protection Act]] in 1972.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.wbur.org/earthwhile/2019/08/02/seal-culling-sharks-cape-cod |title=Seals On Cape Cod Are More Than Just Shark Bait |last=Wasser |first=Miriam |date=2 August 2019 |website=WBUR |language=en |access-date=5 August 2019 |archive-date=5 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805181036/https://www.wbur.org/earthwhile/2019/08/02/seal-culling-sharks-cape-cod |url-status=live}}</ref> Currently very little is known about the hunting and movement patterns of great whites off Cape Cod, but ongoing studies hope to offer insight into this growing shark population.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/06/18/experts-plan-new-study-great-white-sharks-off-cape-cod-say-could-help-protect-beach-users/4JNlLmCrXSlJUKh5iQmlhJ/story.html |title=Tracking great white sharks off Cape Cod could help protect beachgoers |last=Annear |first=Steve |date=18 June 2019 |website=The Boston Globe |language=en-US |access-date=5 August 2019 |archive-date=5 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805181033/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/06/18/experts-plan-new-study-great-white-sharks-off-cape-cod-say-could-help-protect-beach-users/4JNlLmCrXSlJUKh5iQmlhJ/story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (part of the [[Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs|Department of Fish and Game]]) began a population study in 2014; since 2019, this research has focused on how humans can avoid conflict with sharks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlantic White Sharks Research — AWSC |url=https://www.atlanticwhiteshark.org/white-shark-research |access-date=29 August 2021 |website=Atlantic White Shark Conservancy |language=en-US |archive-date=29 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829213106/https://www.atlanticwhiteshark.org/white-shark-research |url-status=live}}</ref> Scientists believe all North Atlantic great white sharks spend their first year of life near New York City, off the coast of Long Island.<ref>National Geographic. "Baby great white shark reveals huge nursery near NYC in scientific first." https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/babies-great-white-sharks-camera-new-york</ref>

A 2018 study indicated that white sharks prefer to congregate deep in [[anticyclonic]] [[eddies]] in the [[North Atlantic Ocean]]. The sharks studied tended to favour the warm-water eddies, spending the daytime hours at depths of {{cvt|450|m|ft}} and coming to the surface at night.<ref>{{cite news |last=Finucane |first=Martin |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/06/22/new-study-says-great-white-sharks-like-hang-out-ocean-eddies-tracked-shark-off-cape-cod/GH3ZijiGoKGH5wfQYRxCmL/story.html |title=Great white sharks like to hang out in ocean eddies, new study says |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=23 June 2018 |access-date=23 June 2018 |archive-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624010521/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/06/22/new-study-says-great-white-sharks-like-hang-out-ocean-eddies-tracked-shark-off-cape-cod/GH3ZijiGoKGH5wfQYRxCmL/story.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>