Much of the Great Barrier Reef is legally protected in an effort to conserve and rebuild the fragile marine environment. Marine reserves are considered the gold standard for conservation, and often shape our perception of what an “undisturbed ecosystem” should look like. However our research, published today in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, […]
Whale sharks may eat plants, according to new study
Whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, likely endure periods of starvation and may eat more plants than previously thought, according to the first results of a new health check developed at the University of Tokyo. Ocean scientists now have a powerful, simple tool to discover the diets, migrations, and conservation needs of this endangered species. […]
Gigantic shark species a result of evolutionary adaptation
A news study from Swansea University found that for a species of shark to become giant, it would need to first evolve adaptations that enhance feeding. This includes its ability to control body temperature or become a filter feeder. Swansea University’s Dr. Catalina Pimiento and associates examined the biological traits of all elasmobranchs and ran a […]
Shark Talk: OCEARCH’s Chris Fischer
Last week, satellite tracking data revealed that the waters near the Atlantic continental shelf off the shores of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and the east coast of Florida are a winter hot spot for large great white sharks. Such a discovery may not have been possible without OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer. OCEARCH, along with […]
Was megalodon the world’s largest scavenger?
Was Carcharocles megalodon, the monstrous whale eater and star of so many books and movies, an obligate scavenger? Best-selling paleo-fiction author Max Hawthorne believes that, while younger Megalodons were active hunters, adults got the lion’s share of their calories from drifting whale carcasses. “It comes down to physics and tooth morphology,” said Hawthorne, who does extensive marine life […]
OCEARCH reveals possible great white gathering spot in Atlantic
Years of study tracking sharks in the Atlantic Ocean may have revealed a warm-weather aggregation point for great white sharks, according to OCEARCH. Researchers have dubbed this region as the Northwest Atlantic Shared Foraging Area (NASFA). Satellite tracking data from the OCEARCH Tracker database system revealed, since 2012, the Atlantic continental shelf waters off North Carolina, South […]
Jayson ‘The Fossil Guy’ Kowinsky: Digging up a passion for ancient sharks
This guest column is brought to you by Jayson Kowinsky, more commonly known as “The Fossil Guy.” He is the Avocational Liaison to the Paleontological Society and also runs Fossilguy.com. Jayson loves to share his interest in paleontology and prehistoric sharks, and helps enthusiasts get involved in the field of professional paleontology. Chiseling away […]
Why do sharks dive?
By Michelle Wheeler, Particle Is it to regulate their body temperature? Conserve energy? Find food? Tiger sharks at Ningaloo Reef are thought to search the seafloor for prey as they dive down and scan for silhouettes as they swim up to the surface. But could there be other reasons why the sharks continuously move […]
Do sharks sneeze?
By Jane Williamson, Associate Professor in Marine Ecology, Macquarie University When an animal sneezes, it’s their way of getting rid of annoying bits and pieces that have floated inside their nose and mouth. While many animals, including humans, elephants, pandas and even seals, can sneeze, sharks unfortunately cannot. To be able to sneeze, an animal […]
Study: Sharks become less nimble as they age
Just like old uncle Frank, several species of sharks tend to become slower and less agile as they age, a new study from Florida Atlantic University has found. In a a joint effort by FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service, scientists examined cartilage mechanics […]
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