Can sharks be taught?

Sharks have traditionally been considered to be mindless killing machines, designed exclusively for hunting, but current scientific research is showing that these perfectly adapted cartilaginous fish are indeed intelligent and are capable of exhibiting problem-solving skills. The complex social behaviors of many shark species equally points to their intelligence and research is indicating that sharks are quite capable of learning.

Oceans Research’s Maze project aims to assess the relative learning capabilities of benthic sharks using an open plan choice-based maze.

Three species, namely, the pajama (Poroderma africanum), puff adder (Haploblepharus edwardsii) and the leopard cat shark (Poroderma pantherinum), are used for this experiment to ascertain whether differences in learning behavior exist between species.

Initially, a fiberglass coated, wooden maize was constructed in which sub-adult and adult cat sharks could be tested. More recently, a smaller glass maize was constructed, in which juvenile cat sharks representing the three species already mentioned, were tested. These juveniles were selected for the maize experiment from the age of six months and were initially trained or conditioned prior to their use in the maize, to accept appropriately sized pieces food from a plastic tong or “grabber”.

Most recently, a structure approximately two thirds the size of the original wooden maize was constructed within the original maize, to accommodate the growing juvenile sharks.

The maize project aims to show whether benthic sharks of three species can be taught to identify a visually distinct color, if offered a reward for making the correct choice.

This project is divided into distinct phases, namely a control, training, two testing (the first of which incorporates a reward and a second, during which rewards are not presented) and an extinction phase.
The colors “black” and “white”, being those offering the most contrast, were chosen and two doorways, one painted black and the other painted white, were positioned halfway down the length of the maize. For this experiment, the color white was decided upon to be color of choice.
During the control phase, the sharks are allowed to randomly choose through which doorway they will pass and each shark “ran” six trials per session during this phase.

The original food reward has currently fallen away and has been replaced by a “shelter” reward. Sharks under captive conditions arguably expend far less energy when compared to their wild counterparts and require (and through observations frequently accept) less food quantity wise, than would be expected and for this reason, the food reward has been replaced with a more appropriate reward, namely an appropriate shelter, which in this case, is a section of hollow plastic pipe.

Eight trials per session are run during each of the two training phases. During these “training” phases the sharks receive their reward if they chose the correct doorway. As mentioned above, as the protocol was refined, the food reward has been replaced by a “shelter” reward, which the sharks readily accept.

During an “extinction” phase, the reward is removed in order to gauge the length of time each individual shark will continue to “remember” which color it needs to choose, even though it does not receive a reward for doing so.

One shark at a time “runs” the maize. This individual is placed into the first compartment, which represents the starting block and is allowed five minutes to swim out of this area and through the rest of the maize, once a “guillotine” type door is lifted. If the shark has not moved after the five minute period, it is gently “prodded” on the caudal area with a clean, plastic stick, but this is the only time during the experiment that physically contact is made with the shark.
Once the shark leaves the “starting block” compartment, it is faced with the choice of the black or white colored doors.
After making its choice of doorway, the shark swims into the end compartment, where it receives the reward, should it have made the correct color choice.
The extinction phase, during which a reward is not given, offers the opportunity to gauge the length of time the sharks remember which color was the correct one, despite not receiving a reward for doing so.

As of March 2014, insufficient data for a publication or to evaluate the success of this project has been gathered and the maize experiment continues.

Alan Jardine
Shark Lab Aquarium Manager

Under pressure

In the United States on Februaury 2^nd every year, if a groundhog sees its shadow then there will be 30 more days of winter, if not then spring follows immediately. Folklore in relation to atmospheric conditions has been common place for centuries and in times before accurate weather prediction could be made, people had a need to find ways of figuring out what was going to happen to their crop or what the conditions at sea would be like. Although most of those early ideas and myths are just fairy tales, like the groundhog story, many are steeped in truth as they were based on multiple observations over time. For example, “ no weather is ill, if the wind be still,” when there is a high pressure system, there is cooling air moving towards the earth’s surface, cool subsiding air is then warmed which may cause evaporation of clouds and often results fair weather.

Similarly, there have been stories over the centuries of animals being able to “predict” conditions such as violent storms and earth quakes. Dogs howling incessantly, caged birds becoming restless, the sound of insects disappearing as they had all left to find safety elsewhere. These are anecdotal stories but scientists are starting to research the validity of such claims. 

Here at Oceans Research it was observed on our regular chumming trips (where our interns get the opportunity to come face to face with white sharks as they help us collect essential data on population dynamics of this apex predator), that on the days after heavy storms, there seemed to be less sharks in the bay. And here at Oceans Research we are all about the research and not the anecdotes.  With a little searching we came across a paper that was published about juvenile blacktip sharks, who left their sheltered nursery grounds for deeper water before the tropical storm Gabriel made landfall, and all the sharks returned after the storm was over. It was concluded after looking at all possible environmental variables that the sharks were responding (perhaps innately) to a drop in atmospheric pressure. The only other paper published in relation to sharks and pressure showed that vestibular hair cells in dogfish are responsible for detecting changes in pressure and that these sharks can detect pressure changes as low as 5 millibars.

We have extensive data sets on the movements of white sharks in Mossel Bay, with more data coming in everyday using more and more sophisticated methods for tracking sharks such as acoustic telemetry, where sharks are tagged and are detected when moving past receivers in the bay (part of the Ocean Tracking Network- OTN), or by satellite tracking devices (part of the Ocearch expedition). The goal of this part of the project is to compare the movements of the white sharks in relation to changing atmospheric pressure systems. This is the meat of my MSc project and hopefully the results will yield some exiting information about these majestic creatures.

Another observation was made by an aquarist who worked at the Shark Lab and aquarium of Mossel Bay (more info can be found on this blog about the Shark Lab and its workings). He noticed that during storms the three species of benthic (or bottom dwelling) sharks that are on display seemed to group together more than usual when there was a storm outside. So sticking with the shark/pressure topic we decided to test this.

When it comes to scientific experimental design there can be a lot of ups and downs. What was supposed to be a simple experiment turned out to be one of the most difficult of the Master projects, with the irony being when you finally get it right you end up moving back to the simple instead of the complicated, after having discarded all the other parameters.

When looking at the grouping behaviour of sharks in a public aquarium, you have to take into account the aesthetics of whatever you are doing. You have a small sample size of sharks to work with at any time, the roof is low and the tank is wide, so photographic or video footage has to be taken with a wide angle lens. Can we correct for the fish eyes effect of that lens? 

    Figure 1: Using software we can remove the fisheye effect and measure accurate distances between         sharks.

How often are you going to record behaviours. We started at three times a week, for three hours spread over a day. But what about behaviour at night? It is presumed that some of these species are nocturnal.  Do we really need behaviour metrics such as swimming patterns when these sharks spend most of their time resting in one place? Do we somehow divide the tank into quadrants and see which are more favourable?

    Figure 2: An early experimental design

There is a skylight and the sharks tend to be on the opposite end of the tank to the skylight. Are they moving away from the light or is it because the tanks water inflow pipe happens to be on the same side as the skylight? Do we take readings on all days to encompass a more “natural” behaviour or do we avoid the three days a week that the sharks are fed and become most active? Do we need to identify individual sharks by using some sort of marking method or do we look at what they are doing as a collective bunch? The three benthic species we have in Mossel Bay (in captivity and on the reefs) tend to group and lie on top of each other as if they didn’t know they are separate species. With each answer comes a new idea or question and it compounds so much in trying to design the perfect experiment where all variables needed are accounted for and those that are not are discarded. 

    Figure 3: Redesigning

In the end Occam’s Razor often proves to be the way to go.  It basically states that among competing hypotheses, the one that makes the fewest assumptions should be selected. And when designing an experiment, a similar idea can come through, where after removing all that is unnecessary in what is needed in finding the answer to the question, we are left with a simple experiment that has all the scientific power necessary to get the research question answered. It also helps when going through the literature that you find an experiment that someone else has done which answers even more of the methodological questions you were struggling with and helps make things even simpler.

So in the end we are looking at the distances between the sharks at half hour intervals over a 24 hour period once a week to ascertain how they are grouping, and then comparing that grouping with how much they congregate during low pressure systems. We are currently in the control phase and are eagerly awaiting the stormy season to see what results we get.  

    Figure 4: Almost there

It is also  important to realize for young budding shark scientists and prospective interns which no doubt will read this blog when looking into coming to Oceans Research to learn about sharks, that their dream job isn’t just about being on a boat all day and playing with sharks. Research can be tedious and monotonous with many hours spent off the water problem solving and conducting experiments which seem extremely boring, but it all adds up to the great database of life, where scientists publish their findings and contribute to the global knowledge and ultimately the protection of the planet and the organisms which inhabit it.

Tristan Scott

MSc candidate. University of Pretoria/Oceans Research

 

Tag and Release

After a short recess, the benthic catshark tag and release program is up and running again! This year we have added an additional two sites to the sampling protocol, namely: Santos and Darwin.

Since August 2012 we have tagged a total of 17 catsharks: Leopard = 1, Pyjama Jacket = 3 and Puffadder = 13. Unfortunately, with no recaptures yet, however, there are possible reasons for this. Negatives: (i) the tag may have fallen off – any scars would likely have healed as sharks have incredible regenerative capabilities, (ii) tagged sharks have died due to natural predation, or alternatively have been caught by fishermen and killed - as they are considered a pest species. Positives: (i) these sharks are abundant and there is a low probability of capturing the same individual more than once. Let’s hope it’s the latter!

Although most species of catshark occurring in Mossel Bay are endemic to South Africa, despite their relative abundance – information is still limited. This tag and release project therefore represents an effective, low cost tool to obtain vital information on these little studied species.

This research project aims to investigate the following key questions relating to the biology and ecology of these endemic sharks:

              i.        Diversity of benthic catsharks in Mossel Bay reef systems

            ii.        Degree of spatial variation in benthic catshark composition between Mossel Bay reef systems

           iii.        Population composition and abundance of benthic catsharks sampled in Mossel Bay

The insight gained from this study will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding about the role these catsharks play in community dynamics. These benthic sharks likely represent predators within their micro-scale habitats and are thus considered to have top-down predatory effects at the community level at which they occur.

Furthermore, most of these catsharks are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – prioritising them as species of conservation concern!!

Shark Chronicles 089 - First impact with Mossel Bay

After being accepted as an Oceans Research intern I was thrilled that I would have the opportunity to work with leading field experts in marine research and, more specifically, having the opportunity to work in close proximity with Great White sharks.

Having been an active intern for a little over a week now, I can say with full confidence that Oceans Research is an excellent program for anyone looking for practical experience in field work. Every day is a series of new and interesting tasks from working in the Mossel Bay aquarium, cataloging new data, going out into the bay,chumming the water and acoustic manual tracking. The highlight so far happened when one of the most powerful and fearsome creatures in the ocean decided that it would be fun to breach close to the side of the boat while we were tracking it. And let me tell you, nothing can prepare you for the awe of being within twenty feet of a Great White.

Two days into my stay I was assigned a hands on task that involved handling a 1 meter long shark at the Mossel Bay aquarium. Unfortunately, the shark was apparently not amused, a wrestling match ensued, during which I was in the face with his tale. Fortunately, we got the data.

Being with Great White sharks is an awesome and very exciting experience. The firsthand experience is worth more than gold, and the mentoring and knowledge I’ve received from the experts is priceless. I would recommend the Oceans Research intern program to anyone with an interest in marine biology – or any other field of biology.
Also, coming to South Africa has been eye-opening. The diverse and unusual flora and fauna have been a treat. On the first day I saw an ostrich farm, elephants, a bird that was as large as a turkey that looked like a dove, and trees you would only expect to see in a Dr. Seuss illustration.

On the whole, I feel blessed by this experience and look forward to the rest of my stay here.

Bryce Colby – Oceans Research Intern

Shark Chronicles 087 - Testimonials

...I arrived full of excitement at the prospect of working with Great White Sharks

...The largest single impression I got upon arriving and throughout my time here, is the seriousness which is given to proper execution of duties and collection of data. The idea of it being a summer science camp is swiftly proven false. The work schedule is full and the breadth of duties is wide enough that one doesn’t get bored with any one activity too soon. I think the demanding schedule builds an esprit du corps and imparts a level of commitment throughout the entourage from ‘staff’ to interns.

...Being that close to a Great White Shark and capturing its movements through camera was more exhilarating than I could have imagined and exceeded all expectations.

...A highlight for me was getting the opportunity to take a genetic sample of a Great White and standing at the stern of the boat with my sample pole thinking what an amazing situation I found myself in.

...I like the fact that the aquarium is an integral part of the initiative as the aquarium reality does not include flashy photos of breaching white sharks, but contains basic hands on research of less spectacular, or sexy, species of marine life. I chose this picture because it shows the engagement of the interns in what is happening.

...It is not only the work that we do here in Mossel Bay that makes the internship so exciting. There is also the opportunity to take part in activities at the weekend, such as the world’s highest bungy jump, caving, ostrich riding, zip lines, game drives and of course a trip to Cape Town to do a cage dive and see Table Mountain.

...I’ve had many experiences that I will never forget. One of these was researching the Body tonic of sharks, while flipped upside-down. Surprisingly sharks relax while they are upside-down, but the reason why still is unexplained. So it is very exciting to research in an area where many is still unknown.

...I took a trip to Addo Elephant National Park, the key tourism destination in the Eastern Cape. It is the only park in the world where the BIG 7 occur together in a reserve: over 500 elephants, Cape buffalo, leopard, black rhino, lions, the great white shark and seasonal Southern right whale as well as a variety of different birds, hyena, eland, kudu, zebra, smaller mammals, and reptiles. I booked the "Sundowner" game drive and a game drive for the following morning. Both were organised by Addo with guides to show us the best parts of the park.

...This is my second time in Mossel Bay after tracking a great white for over days in 2005 and meeting Ryan and Enrico for the first time back then. I love being involved in all the work around the sharks and all the ongoing shark- and marine mammal projects.

...I have always wanted to get into scientific journalism. Oceans Research has a magazine called Beyond Blue and in our time here we were given the opportunity to do research for the magazine and even write articles.

...Oceans Research really has opened me to experiences that I would never have been exposed to and I am very grateful for the once in a lifetime opportunity. In my time at Mossel Bay and with Oceans I have learnt so much about practical fieldwork and research and have enjoyed making new connections with people and learning about a new culture.

...Overall I count myself very lucky to have had this experience and would definitely love to return one day. The enthusiasm of the Field Specialists and Researchers who have guided us this month have definitely made my experience more enjoyable and I would like to thank them also for teaching and influencing me. I am now certain that a career in the Marine Sciences is what I wish to pursue and I am looking forward to the future with the knowledge I have gained from this month in hand.

...I have received hands on training in more areas than I could have imagined. I now have a much clearer understanding for shark conservation and marine research. I feel I’m making a difference here and am gaining so much from every single day.

Stepphen, Jordan, Janette, Lucinda, Max, Greg, and Timo: January 2011 Mossel Bay Marine Lab interns

Shark Chronicles 086 - Pills

White shark population research by Peter Berney

I’ve now been an intern here at Oceans Research in Mossel bay for a week but it has been such an amazing week with so many new experiences that I will never forget. On Wednesday it was my birthday and in the morning was my first time chumming for Great white sharks. We took a boat out in to the bay and after only half an hour of throwing chum into the water came the first great white I have ever seen, which was amazing, this was then followed by another eight over the course of about five hours ranging in length from around 2 to 4 meters.

Dolphin research by Lucinda Farmery

There are around six watch spots along the coastline of Mossel Bay. The one we visited was based on a hotel balcony. We scanned the ocean once every 30mins with binoculars to see if we could see any dolphin pods. This provides more of an understanding on how the dolphins move around the bay.
I have only been here a week so far, but overall I had had a really enjoyable experience. It’s hard work, but the work is rewarding. It also makes you appreciate the weekends a great deal!

Aquarium research by Jordan Housiaux and Janette Theuner

At the Ocean’s aquarium/ Shark Lab we learnt how to do water changes, how to feed the different animals and how to record data for these jobs. The one thing we picked up quickly from hanging at the aquarium that we weren’t expecting was the close relationship between the public and the aquarium staff and the importance of educating people.
Another aspect of the aquarium we enjoyed from day one was the interactions we got to have with the animals. We are using some of the sea stars to do research and we will present this project at the end of the month.

Seal research by Jessie Lee

January marks a new year for many things for Oceans Research. For one, the seal survey method has changed as of December 2010, where daytime surveys of the Cape fur seal (Artocephalus pusillus pusillus) movements from Seal Island are now done on the boat instead of from a nearby hotel rooftop, and in sectors other that the main seal movement path of Sector 2 at night. Seal surveys are now conducted in random sectors (total 6) around Seal Island, and in set blocks of 6 hours (0700-1300, 1300-1900, 1900-0100 and 0100-0700) which allows different shifts of people to have their schedules fit accordingly for the week. Changing from 24 hour blocks also means that all is not lost through bad weather. Which four time blocks we have for the week is totally random, as is our anchoring position, adding a little more variety to proceedings.
Given the opportunity to be closer to Seal Island, we can see that there are currently pups on the island, and gather incidental data regarding seal activities off the island: feeding on fish inshore of island, and some playful behaviour. Among the other benefits is that individual seals who are returning slowly are less likely to be missed than they would through binoculars from the hotel rooftop. Much is yet to be learned about seal behaviour, but having access to a boat has greatly helped with providing more data regarding their activity and consequently that of their main predator, the great white shark. Little activity is still good data even during the day when seals do not normally leave the island, and anchoring in the sectors with fewer seal movements is important so we can obtain field data (or a lack thereof) to support our previous predictions.
A total of six people are on board the vessel to take two-hour shifts in pairs observing any seal activity. Having a shift in the afternoon may make seal surveying seem like a bit of breeze, even like sunbathing on a boat. The sun’s rays are piercing and hard on the eyes without sunglasses though, and sunscreen is a must spending six hours under the sun. However, when one is assigned to a 1900-0100 or 0100-0700 shift, the situation changes drastically - people wearing as many clothes as possible and trying to find any inch of dry space aboard the boat. One lucky person may seek the cabin for shelter, leaving the rest out in the night cold of Mossel Bay. Those not asleep may be treated to the tranquillity of a pod of bottlenose dolphins swimming by in the darkness, and everyone secretly hopes to witness a white shark breach in ambush of its prey. Having the boat available during the day has allowed greater flexibility and scientific accuracy for seal survey, and it has also opened doors to embracing the field work of marine research.

Shark Chronicles 085 - Passion, inspiration and determination

I never knew it was possible for one single experience to define your life until now. I have only had the pleasure of being an Oceans intern for a week now but this week has been so unbelievable that every time I try to explain it to anyone, nothing can even do it justice. From helping out at the aquarium to going out chumming for white sharks, I have learned more and experienced more in this last week than I ever thought was possible. Everything that I have done here so far has completely touched my heart in ways that are indescribable.

Even the most mundane tasks like cleaning out the turtle area gives me the greatest pleasure because I know what I am doing is making a difference. The aquarium is such a quaint and wonderful place to be. The personal atmosphere allows me to talk with interested visitors and witness their curiosity first hand. Because of the wonderful mentors and leaders of Oceans and the aquarium, I am able to answer their questions with great confidence. As we are feeding the sharks, you get to spend time with the graceful creatures where they are most comfortable and just watch in awe as they dominate their own world. Then there is doing Tonic on the small sharks. Nothing has ever made me feel so alive in my life than taking these powerful, beautiful creatures and holding them as they are completely relaxed. By grabbing the sharks and flipping them upside down, the sharks become immobilized for a brief period. This can be used for reproductive reasons mostly in sharks and humans can use it to better study the sharks. Handling each shark was so unforgettable. Each sharks seemed to have its own personality, from really chill to super active and feisty, that made me fall in love with them even more. Not only do the smaller sharks have unique personalities, but the bigger, better known ones do as well.

The first time I looked into the eyes of a great white shark here in Mossel Bay, I knew I made the right decision in what I want to study throughout my life and on coming to intern at Oceans. It is by far the most ingrained memory I will ever have in my mind. As we came across more and more of these graceful giants, I realized that they also all have personalities that make them stand out in your mind. Some are playful and will stay around for hours going for the bait line, and others will curiously come to the boat for just an once-over and then go on their way. Each time another shark came to the boat, my heart skipped a beat. Every job on the boat is a treat. Even chumming, which is as wonderful as it sounds, is rewarding. Throwing fish juice and guts overboard may not sound enjoyable to some, but as soon as the sharks arrive, you know that they are there just because of your efforts. The pay-offs are more obvious when it comes to data and photography of shark identification. The idea of being able to take observations of sharks and their dorsal fins to identify and track sharks is simplistic yet so imaginative at the same time. When everyone comes together at one time on the boat for the common goal of studying and understanding the beautiful predators that populate the area, it is truly a heartwarming occurrence. The simple observations we make can help understand the underwater world that we know so little about.

Other projects that we interns get the pleasure of working on include seal dolphin survey. Just sitting and observing the awe-inspiring animals is treat enough without even considering what scientific advances you are helping with. We all enjoy sitting on the beach, a boat, a harbor, or anywhere else and watching how animals naturally act. So doing so with the purpose of understanding them and their behaviors more not only feed your curiosity but also your sense of well-being. The main purpose of the surveys is to monitor their behaviors while in the harbor but a fortunate side affect is putting a smile on your face. Thinking about the activities I have participated in during the last week seems so very surreal to me.
One such activity was helping to transport a dead ragged-toothed shark off the beach. While my whole body felt heavy with grief when I saw it at first was overwhelming but I knew that we had to help. The shark had been caught by a fisherman, released and washed up on shore shortly afterwards. To see the impact that humans are having on these animals first hand is rather unnerving. I felt that I already was inspired to help these creatures before helping with the washed up shark, but somehow, that experience brought up a stronger passion that I didn’t even know existed. It’s as if that fisherman brought up the desire to help in any way possible as it brought up the ragged-toothed shark from the deep. What better place to have these feelings than at Oceans.

I have never felt like people have understood me or my passions for marine life as much as I did when I came to Oceans. The people are so very helpful and informative in every possible aspect imaginable. Not only are they nice to have around while doing research, but also just to hang around with in our spare time. When people with similar desires to help something come together, it becomes impossible for them not to enjoy each other’s company. I am definitely going to miss each and every person I have met here while interning and will hopefully continue these relationships built on common goals and wishes for years and years to come.

Needless to say, my experience here with Oceans Research has been one of inspiration. Like adding wood to a fire, my admiration of the ocean and all its creatures, especially sharks, has grown tremendously. I have not had one bad experience while in Mossel Bay and have experienced more than I ever thought I would. I came into this internship with high aspirations, and every single one of them has been blown away and replaced with experiences that would be impossible to get anywhere else. If in the future, anyone asks me what is the one experience that has made my life more magnificent, without hesitation, I would say interning for Oceans Research.

Kayla Melton - Oceans Reseach intern

Shark Chronicles 084 - What is research about at Oceans Research?

On our day of arrival we were met by a friendly bunch of people of all different nationalities but with a common interest, the conservation and public awareness of marine life. To be honest before arriving in Mossel Bay I thought that we would pretty much only be doing Great White Shark research, which is the primary reason I signed up to be an intern with Oceans Research. However the first couple of days were too windy and were not conducive for going out and chumming for the white sharks. This was followed by a few boat engine problems which resulted in us not being able to go out on the boat for the day. It quickly becomes apparent that research in the marine environment and indeed any research in general is susceptible to last minute decisions whereby changes to the planned schedule is inevitable. This makes it interesting as plans can change at any time and you need to be prepared to adapt to new challenges.

Instead of going out on the boat, the fist few days involved doing Dolphin surveys from land at 6 sites around the Mossel Bay coastline. Edith is the Cetacean Queen here at Mossel Bay and her enthusiasm for cetaceans and dolphins in particular is awesome. The days can get a bit long when you don’t see any dolphins for several hours on end, but again this teaches you another vital attribute of any researcher, patience! After all patience is a virtue.. However it is rewarding on the days when you get to see a pod of about 40-50 dolphins moving synchronously en mass and tracking them around the bay.

On one of the first few days we were also introduced to the Shark Lab where a variety of interesting and ground-breaking research is taking place. We were fortunate enough to get involved with a study involving tonic immobility in sharks, namely the Puff-Adder Shy Sharks and Leopard Catsharks. This is when the sharks are turned upside-down and go into a trance-like state. At first when you turn them over they struggle profusely but then they eventually start to relax and you can literally feel when they slip into tonic. They lie there motionless and one would almost think they are dead as they don’t move at all except for their gills as they continue to breathe. However they suddenly slip out of tonic and start to struggle again at which point you release them and let them be. Theories differ on why sharks go into tonic immobility such as it could be an anti-predator defence mechanism by playing dead or it could help with shark copulation as the male will turn the female over whereby she wont struggle and he can get on with things. But again the research is helping to better understand why this mechanism is inherent in shark species and is aiming to identify if all sharks are capable of going into tonic as well as the main reason for this unusual phenomenon. Adam is in charge of the Shark Lab and also runs the aquarium which aims to undertake ground-breaking research while at the same time allowing the public to come and observe what is going on. Often new discoveries in science are kept among the scientists of the world, but Enrico (one of the Oceans Research Directors) explained to us that it is important to translate what happens in science into a simpler format which can be understood by the general public. This is also important as it generates public awareness which enables the public to understand why scientists do research in the first place and will ultimately lead to the more successful conservation of marine species.

About a week into our stay here we were finally able to go out on the boat looking for Great Whites. Our two intern leaders, Rob (the humorous South African-Kiwi) and Jeremy (the Californian gnarly surfer dude) took us out for the day and showed us the ropes of what to do on the boat and how to attract sharks. We started chumming and waited about 3 hours for any sharks to appear. These 3 hours were filled by Rob trying to get us to reveal things we never new about each other as well as other funny stories of past events and life in general. Just as we were about to run out of conversation 3 great whites came hurtling in towards the boat and we got our first taste of the Great White experience. It was amazing to see how graceful they are in the water, immediately putting to rest any doubt that these are mindless man-eating killers.. They pass by the bait rope with a graceful calm that you would not expect from one of the oceans apex predators, a truly humbling experience.

Our final mission before writing this blog was a seal survey whereby we anchored just off seal island and observed the movement of seals both incoming and outgoing from the island. Being out on the boat all day is an awesome experience. It’s just you and your new buddies out on the ocean observing things which people in general never see or simply take for granted.

One quickly realizes how all things in nature are interconnected and how researching various organisms enables us to better understand these interconnections and ultimately how we can enable their conservation. From just a week here the life of a research scientist seems very appealing. It’s hard work and long hours, however the work you do is very rewarding. It’s awesome to be able to contribute to something larger than yourself, and being an Oceans intern gives you the opportunity to do just that.

David van Beuningen