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NATURALIST'S SHARK BIOLOGY COURSE AT THE BIMINI BIOLOGICAL FIELD
STATION--TENTATIVE DATE: NOVEMBER, 1997
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HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO MEET LARGE SHARKS OF SEVERAL SPECIES, INCLUDING
TIGER, REEF, LEMON, BLACKTIP, BLACKNOSE AND NURSE FACE TO FACE AND AT THE
SAME TIME LEARN ABOUT THEIR BIOLOGY AND EXPERIENCE HOW FIELD RESEARCH IS
DONE.
Herewith follows the course description:
This unique course will include at least 20 hours of illustrated,
non-technical lectures on a variety of topics such as the kinds of sharks
and how they evolved; structure and adaptations of sharks; interaction
with humans including conservation and exploitation, medical and social
aspects such as attacks and repellents; the behavior of sharks with
emphasis on their sensory adaptations; how sharks work including
reproduction and modes of development and finally an explanation of the
research on the lemon shark that has been carried out at Bimini for the
past decade.
But the heart of the course is the half dozen or more field trips which
will feature all the scientific work that the researchers do at Bimini
including the capture and tagging of large sharks; the surgical
implantation of telemetry transmitters; tracking of telemetered sharks
and the collection of juvenile lemon sharks for genetic sampling and
marking with PIT microtags. Perhaps most interesting will be the in-water
observation of at least 5 species of free swimming wild sharks.
Tuition OF $850.00 covers accommodations and meals, lectures, field trips,
films and videos. Transportation to Bimini including round trip airfare
on a Fairchild Metro-2 Turboprop, all taxes, tips and transfers is $190.00
****** The course will run if we can locate 8 students*****************
If the timing is right for you and you want to join us, I will send you an
application and information letter via email fax or post. Once you
decide, please email me or contact me at 305 274 0628 and let me know that
you are coming.
Samuel H. Gruber
Bimini Biological Field Station
9300 SW 99th St.
Miami, Florida 33176-2050
voice mail 305 361 4146
voice & fax 305 274 0628
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TYPICAL SUMMARY OF LECTURES/FIELD TRIPS
Day 1. Gruber: Introduction to the course, objectives etc.
Evolution of sharks: The fossil record.
Grubbs: Systematics of living sharks
Day 2. Gruber: Shark-human interactions--Shark attack and repellents
Grubbs: General ecology
Day 3. Gruber: Behavior, tracking
Grubbs: General physiology
Day 4. Gruber: Sensory systems
Grubbs: Shark fisheries
Day 5 Grubbs: Shark conservation
Gruber: Shark research at Bimini The decade study
FIELD TRIPS(weather permitting)
Day 1. Baiting longline 1730h; checking longlines at 2200h;
Day 2 Check longlines at 0200h and 0700h. Keep tiger lines baited all day
and night staff check shark lines at 1100h rebait at 1600: Tagging sharks
Shark dive at Triangle Rocks 1400h
Day 3 Continue longlining until tiger, lemon sharks captured. Depending on
tides, staff locates shark by telemetry; attempt will be made to capture
telemetered lemon shark with nets and fit it with speed transmitter.
Students track sharks
Day 4 Optional SCUBA dive; Afternoon off; continue long lineing
Day 5 Gillnetting at high tide--PIT tagging juvenile lemon sharks.
EVENING ACTIVITIES
When possible we will have question and answer sessions; a mix of shark
videos and reading.
The entire class/staff will go to N. Bimini one evening provided that the
shark activities allow it.
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