Fiji Project

2. Sharks

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark
• Marine
• Carnivores: Predators, Filter Feeders and Scavengers
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnivorous
• Cartilaginous Skeleton
• Body compressed laterally
• 5-7 lateral Gills

3. Taxonomy

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxonomy

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondrichthyes

Sharks

Among many Orders:

Carcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharhiniformes

Orectolobiformes (Carpet Sharks)

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orectolobiformes

Lamniformes (Mackerel Sharks)

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamniformes

Approx. 400 Species

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sharks

Records

• http://www.new-brunswick.net/new-  brunswick/sharks/facts.html
• 
  

4. Morphology

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphology_(biology)
• http://www.marinebiodiversity.ca/shark/english/spiracle.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermal_denticle
• http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/caudal_keel
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapetum_lucidum
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nictitating_membrane

5. Physiology

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physiology

Senses

• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/anatomy/Senses.shtml
• http://www.elasmodiver.com/shark_senses.htm
  
• http://www.milton.edu/academics/pages/marinebio/shark.html

Smell

• http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/topics/s_nose.htm
• http://www.sharkinfo.ch/SI3_99e/noses.html

Vision

• http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/white_shark/vision.htm

Electroreception

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroreception
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampullae_of_Lorenzini

Lateral Line

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateral_line

Osmoregulation

• http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/Zoology/AnimalPhysiology/Osmoregulation/Osmoregulation.htm

Freshwater Tolerance

• http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/Zoology/AnimalPhysiology/Osmoregulation/Osmoregulation.htm

• http://www.pewoceanscience.org/publications/files/papers/HammerschlagReview.pdf
• http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/sharkfish/freshwatersharks.php
• http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/topics/p_fw_rays.htm

Buoyancy

• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/anatomy/Liver.shtml
• http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/questions_answers_elasmobranch.html

Body Temperature

• http://www.sharkology.com/temp.html
• http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/white_shark/p_body_temp.htm
• http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/topics/p_warm_body_1.htm
  

6. Reproduction

• http://www.sharkology.com/temp.html
• http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/sharks/reproduction/index.shtml
  
• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/anatomy/Repro.shtml

Internal Fertilization

Birth

• Ovipary
• Vivipary

• Aplacental Viviparity (Ovoviviparity)
• Placental Viviparity

Vulnerabilities

• http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/1999/11/sharks-beware/2
• http://www.americanscientist.org/include/popup_fullImage.aspx?key=Gl6eDNCARJn/0//Ghqehximi3VWiQj7u

- Late Maturity
- Small Litter Size

7. Sharks most likely seen by Divers in Fiji

• Whale Shark
• Tiger Shark
• Bull Shark
• Hammerhead Sharks
• Grey Reef Shark
• Leopard Shark
• Silvertip Shark
• Whitetip Reef Shark
• Tawny Nurse Shark
• Sicklefin Lemon Shark

8. Whale Shark

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_shark

9. Tiger Shark

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_shark

10. Bull Shark

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_shark

11. Sicklefin Lemon Shark

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicklefin_lemon_shark

12. Silvertip Shark

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silvertip_shark

13. Tawny Nurse Shark

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawny_nurse_shark

14. Zebra Shark

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_shark

15. Blacktip Reef Shark

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacktip_reef_shark

16. Hammerhead Sharks

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammerhead_shark

Scalloped Hammerhead

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalloped_hammerhead

Great Hammerhead

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_hammerhead

17. Grey Reef Shark

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_reef_shark
  

18. Ecology

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology

Many Ecological Niches

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_niche

The Role of predatory Sharks

• http://www.oceana.org/sharks/media/oceana-publications/predators-as-prey/
• Essential Threads in Web of their Habitats
• Often, Apex Predators
• Maintain Health & Structure of Marine Ecosystems, by:
• weeding out the Sick and the Weak
• controlling the Population Sizes of their Prey

The Value of Sharks

• http://www.oceana.org/fileadmin/oceana/uploads/destructive_trawling/dive/sea_the_value/SeaTheValue_Final_web.pdf
  

19. Sharks in Peril

• http://www.oceana.org/sharks/media/oceana-publications/end-of-the-line/

- IUCN: 79 Species critically imperiled

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Conservation_Union
• http://www.iucnredlist.org/static/categories_criteria_3_1
• http://www.theprovince.com/technology/Atlantic+sharks+risk+over+fishing+study/976868/story.html

- 80-100 Million per Year

• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15020727/

- 80%-99% of Stocks of oceanic Species wiped out

• http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.com/2008/05/majority-of-oceanic-shark-species-face.html
• http://www.pewtrusts.org/news_room_detail.aspx?id=22874

- Main Threats

- Habitat Destruction

- Overfishing

• 80-100 Million per Year

• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15020727/

Shark Fin Soup

• http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/species/news/stories/?105060
• http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/10/pip.shark.finning/index.html
• http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/43159/newsDate/19-Jul-2007/story.htm

- Bycatch

• http://www.pacfish.org/sharkcon/documents/bonfil.html

- Devastating Techniques

- Longlines

• http://ecosystem-preservation.suite101.com/article.cfm/sharks_harmed_by_long_line_fishing
• http://www.oceana.org/sharks/threats/bycatch/longlines/

- Driftnets

• http://www.fao.org/fishery/fishtech/1093
• http://www.sharkinfo.ch/SI2_00e/mexico.html
• http://archive.greenpeace.org/majordomo/index-press-releases/1999/msg00187.html

- Shark Nets and Drumlines

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_net
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_lines
• http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/2920.html
• http://www.theunderwaterchannel.tv/faces/mark/of-shark-nets-and-baited-drumlines-in-kwazulunatal-south-africa/

- Finning

• http://www.sharkfriends.com/sharks/sharkfinning.html
• http://www.sharktrust.org/content.asp?did=26881
• http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/the-expedition/news/shark-fin-mystery
  

20. What can be done?

• Abrogating/Replacing Shark Fin Soup
• Conducting Shark Awareness Courses
• Obtaining Protection for threatened Species
• Solving the problem of the Drum-lines and Shark Nets
• Total Allowable Catch (TAC)
• Promoting Marine Protected Areas.
• Practice tag and release