Shark Research and Conservation

This Shark Research and Conservation initiative is a collaborative partnership with the Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science - University of Miami that introduces participants to the world of Sharks. Through demonstrations and in-class exercises, students work with real shark biotelemetry data and are taught basic spatial analyses of shark satellite tracking data.

Shark Tagging Expedition Capstone
Through a field-intensive capstone, participants are given the unique opportunity to interact with sharks and be trained in advanced technologies used in shark behavioral ecology and conservation methodology, such as biotelemetry (i.e., satellite tags). Participants devote an entire day to field research; catching, tagging, and releasing sharks to study their abundance and movement patterns and learning about conservation and management.

Program Objectives

The objectives of the Shark Research & Conservation learning module is to provide participants with:

An introduction to shark morphology and the various shark species types.
A working knowledge of the research methods used to advance understanding of the shark conservation efforts.
An opportunity to contribute to the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function
An opportunity to explore social behaviors and symbiotic relationships between sharks and other organisms.
Space to explore their personal attitudes toward and knowledge of sharks.

Program Learning Outcomes

After completing the Shark Research and Conservation learning module and field experience, participants will be able to

Name species scientifically and identify based on morphological features.
Discuss reproductive strategies and evaluate how these and adaptive features relate to population abundance and survival.
Discuss threats to and conservation status of sharks
Discuss the tools utilized in shark conservation and utilize various tagging and tracking tools and the advantages and limitations
Explain how GIS is used in Shark research and conservation
Explain the role sharks play in the ecosystem and how humans play a part in their survival.

Dr. Neil Hammerschlagg conducts an ultrasound on a Bull Shark.

The team stabilizes a Nurse Shark and prepares to take measurements and tissue sample.

$Using the refractometer$

Using the refractometer

BGS Scholar Dinah and Kaiya use a refractometer to measure water salinity

BGD Scholar Akai reads off shark measurements

RSC Team explains how the types of measurements that are taken for the data form

BGD Scholar throwing line

Throwing out shark bait

BGD Scholar Zaria hydrates the shark

BGD Scholar Miceala taking a tissue sample from sharks dorsal fin

Danielle assists with hydrating a shark

BGD Scholars towing the shark line

A few of the BGD Scholars get together for a picture

After 6 hours on the water collecting shark data the group is back on land.

BGD Scholar Skye assist in pulling a shark onto the boat

SRC graduate student discusses the types of satellite tags that will be used on the expedition.

BGD Scholars pulling a shark onto boat

BGD Instructors pose for the camera

Group picture of BGD scholars and instructors

Bull Shark

Girth measurements are taken and then recorded on a data sheet

A water pumps provides a flow of continuous water through the mouth and a second hose is used to hydrate sharks body

Bull Shark #2 head measurements

Taking caudal length measurements

Shark head measurements

SRC taking tail measurements

Drawing shark blood sample

Preparing tuna for shark bait

BGD Instructors

BGD instructors take a pictue

BGD Scholar Micaela casting the line to catch a shark

Pipetting blood sample

Shark length measurements

Dwayne preparing to throw out the line

Centrifuge

SRC spins the blood in a centrifuge

Group Selfie

SRC team and BGD Scholars and BGD chaperones take a selfie at the end of the expedition

Instructor Johnson helps out and prepares to cast his line out to catch a shark

BGD Scholar Rachel assist with pulling in a shark for data collection

BGD Scholar Akai assists will pulling a shark on to the boat

Prepares shark bait

$BGD Scholar Rachel uses a refractometer to test salinity$

BGD Scholar Rachel uses a refractometer to test salinity

NOAA satellite tag was placed on a nurse shark

BGD Scholar Dinah prepares her line for casting

Shark blood samples

Instructor David assist with pulling up a hammerhead shark

Collecting and recording shark data on a data sheet

BGD Scholar Kaiya checks with her teammates as they tow the line

BGD Scholar Madison assisting with shark hydration

BGD Scholar Alex is checking her shark line to see if anything is at the end.

BGD Scholar Violet is holding her line steady as a team member checks the end of the line for a shark

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$Using the refractometer$

$BGD Scholar Rachel uses a refractometer to test salinity$

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