World of Sharks

What’s happening to Antarctica’s penguins? With Dr Tom Hart

On April 25th, we celebrated World Penguin Day - a day dedicated to celebrating these incredibly charismatic birds and raising awareness of the immense challenges they face. Someone who knows a lot about this subject is SOSF project leader and penguinologist Dr Tom Hart. Aside from having one of the coolest job titles out there, Tom has dedicated his life to researching the wildlife of one of the most remote places on the planet - Antarctica. It is also a place that is changing rapidly, and its residents are coming under increasing pressure from anthropogenic impacts. Broadly, penguins are in decline, and Tom wants to know why. This episode, we dive into his fascinating research to disentangle the drivers of penguin decline, and find out what it's really like to have one of the wildest environments on earth as your office. We talk about how amazingly adapted penguins are to a very challenging lifestyle, how they cope with the relatively new arrival of tourists, and some things we can all be doing to help safeguard them, and the place that they call home. 

If you want to get involved in penguin conservation, why not head to Penguin Watch (https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/penguintom79/penguin-watch or check out @penguin_watch), a citizen science initiative set up by Tom and his collaborators where you can contribute to vital penguin research from the comfort of your sofa!

This podcast was brought to you by the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF). Find out more about our work here: www.saveourseas.com.

How do marine animals navigate the oceans? With Jesse Granger and Kyle Newton

The global ocean is a vast place, spanning the entire planet and tens of thousands of kilometres deep. Many marine animals undertake huge migrations across the ocean, but there’s no signposts or google maps…so how on earth do they know where to go? This episode, we delve into the incredible world of sensory and cognitive ecology to understand how sharks, rays, whales and a host of other critters navigate the underwater world with scientists Jesse Granger and Kyle Newton. Jesse and Kyle ask big questions about how animals find their way around, mainly focussing on the possible ways that they are able to detect and use the earth’s magnetic field to orientate themselves.

You can follow Jesse on @JesseGranger6 and Kyle on @SharkMagneto. You can also follow their work by heading to https://sites.duke.edu/jngranger/ (Jesse) ,  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kyle-Newton and https://saveourseas.com/project-leader/kyle-newton/ (Kyle). 

This podcast is brought to you by the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF). Find out more about us here: www.saveourseas.com

 

Magnificent Mantas! With Lois Flounders, Yani Mohamed and Simon Hilbourne from the Manta Trust

Get ready to chat all things sea pancake! This episode, we pitched all your questions about the mesmerising manta ray to Yani, Simon and Lois who work for the Maldivian Manta Ray Project (MMRP), the flagship research project of the Manta Trust. We learn so much about these enigmatic, highly intelligent animals - how do they feed? Why do they jump out of the water? And why is the Maldives such a special place for them? We also chat about what it's like to work in the Maldives and swim with mantas for a living, as well as how YOU can help in the research and conservation of these incredible elasmobranchs. 

Find out more about the MMRP here: https://www.mantatrust.org/maldives, the manta trust here: https://www.mantatrust.org/, and how to submit to IDtheManta here: https://www.mantatrust.org/idthemanta. You can also find out about a job opportunity to work in the Maldives with this amazing team here: https://www.mantatrust.org/careers. 

The Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) are proud to have funded and supported the Manta Trust since the very beginning. You can find out more about our work, and the other projects we fund, here: https://saveourseas.com/. 

Reframing the narrative of sharks with Steve Backshall

Grab your gear and get ready for an adventure, because this week I am joined by extreme explorer, naturalist and presenter Steve Backshall MBE! Throughout his career, Steve has endeavoured to change public perception of species perceived as 'deadly' or 'dangerous' - changing the narrative from fear to respect, joy and awe. He's spent a lot of time in the water among sharks, most recently for his latest Sky series 'Shark with Steve Backshall' which aims to promote wonder and dispell popular myths about these animals. In this episode we discuss some of the most common misconceptions of sharks, the classic 'Jaws' trope, and how we can begin to change the narratives about sharks that have become so entrenched. And, of course, we hear some of Steve's fascinating stories from the field, and introducing the next generation to the adventure and wonder of the natural world.

You can find Steve on instagram (@backshall.steve), twitter (@SteveBackshall) and learn more about his upcoming series and tours at www.stevebackshall.com. You can also watch his latest TV series, Shark with Steve Backshall, here: https://www.sky.com/watch/shark-with-steve-backshall. 

This podcast was brought to you by the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF). You can find out more about our work by heading to www.saveourseas.com.

Can sharks adapt to changing seas? With David Sims and Freya Womersley

We're back! And we're kicking off season 2 by exploring our rapidly changing seas and the impacts of these changes on shark movements, distribution and behaviour with scientists David Sims and Freya Womersley. Both David and Freya work on the Global Shark Movement Project (https://www.globalsharkmovement.org/), which aims to collate data on pelagic shark movements from around the world and investigate the potential impacts of human activities on these movements. In this episode, we discuss the cumulative effects of rapidly decreasing oxygen levels and warming temperatures on the foraging behaviour of blue and mako sharks; how fisheries and climate change can overlap and place further pressure on shark populations; and whether species can adapt to an increasingly hostile marine environment. 

Along the way we hear about the amazing healing capabilities of whale sharks, learn how satellite tagging works and what it's like to be emailed by a basking shark...

Follow David (@TheSimsLab) and Freya (@FreyaWomersley) for more jawsome insights into the life of pelagic sharks! 

If you liked this episode, be sure to rate, review and subscribe. Head to www.saveourseas.com to find out more about what we do. 

How will climate change impact sharks? With Dr Jodie Rummer and Carolyn Wheeler

For the FINAL episode of season 1, I am joined by fish physiologists Dr Jodie Rummer and Carolyn Wheeler to talk about a the most-asked-about subject of 2021: climate change, and its impact on sharks. This topic has been playing on a lot of people's minds this year, and we've had a lot of questions since the start of the pod about how sharks and the oceans will be affected, and what WE can do to help. So buckle in - we're headed on a rollercoaster ride into the stormy seas of the climate crisis. But fear not! Guiding us on this journey are the brilliant Jodie and Carolyn, who study the effects of climate stressors and other human-driven issues on fish, including sharks and rays, in tropical waters, and we talk about their pretty sobering findings. On the way we meet Edna the epaulette shark, visit some picturesque shark nurseries in French Polynesia and learn what it’s like to observe coral bleaching in real time…

We also end the episode on an optimistic note for 2022, as we talk about how humans still have a real chance to make positive changes, slow climate change and help safeguard our favourite elasmobranchs. 

You can find out more about Jodie and Carolyn and their work here https://www.physioshark.org/our-team here https://www.jodierummer.com/ and here https://www.coralcoe.org.au/person/carolyn-wheeler and follow them over at @Wheel_House23 and @PhysiologyFish. 

You can also find out more about us by heading to www.saveourseas.com. 

Thanks for listening! And we'll see you in 2022!

Ask us anything! With Dr James Lea and Jade Schultz

This week SOSF content manager Jade Schultz put out a call on social media for all your shark and ocean related queries, so we could pitch them to shark scientist and SOSF CEO Dr James Lea! And boy the listeners didn't disappoint - this episode takes us on a wild ride from careers in marine conservation to shark eyelids, schooling behaviour to conservation successes and even fossilised shark poo...

Together James, Jade and I attempt to answer as many of your questions as possible in an hour - with informative, and at times hilarious, results. Including which shark we'd have a beer with!

You can find out all about James, Jade and the awesome work SOSF do at www.saveourseas.com.  

What do basking sharks eat? With Shane Wasik and Rachel Brooks

This episode we are jumping fins first into the weird and mysterious life of the second-largest shark in the world - basking sharks! I am joined by Shane and Rachel from Basking Shark Scotland, an organisation on the beautiful west coast of Scotland, which happens to be one of the global hotspots to see these sharks. Over summer they spend everyday in the water with basking sharks and know a thing or two about them...together, we answer all your questions about the big beasties, including what they eat, where they go after summer, how they mate and what threats they face. Stay tuned to find out how such a huge shark is adapted to eat enough of its tiny food source, meet a humpback whale called Barney, and why basking sharks touch fins sometimes...

Rachel: @rach.underwater, @rachelbrooksart, https://rachelbrooksart.com/

Shane: @shanewasik

Basking Shark Scotland: www.baskingsharkscotland.co.uk, @baskingsharkscotland

Video of basking shark breaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJgon0C3bbs

This podcast was brought to you by the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF). You can find out more about our work here: https://saveourseas.com/

What is the fin trade, and what does it mean for sharks? With Ali Hood and Diego Cardeñosa

Get your SCUBA kit ready for a deep dive...because this week, we're taking a closer look at the global shark fin trade. We'll be finding out exactly what finning is, why there is a demand for shark fins in the first place, and the impact this can have on shark populations globally. Additionally, we'll explore finning in the context of overfishing - the biggest threat to sharks worldwide - and discuss other shark products sold on the global market, as well as how we might begin to overcome the huge and very complex issues associated with the shark trade to forge a better future for sharks. 

My VERY special and knowledgeable guests this week are scientist and expert on the international shark trade, Diego Cardeñosa, and Director of Conservation for the shark trust Ali Hood. They offer insights from the perspectives of scientific research and analysis, policy-making, campaigning and raising public education and awareness, and talk about how important it is to tackle issues with the trade from all angles. We also find out why it's important to make sure you know exactly what you're feeding your cat, and what it's like to fight for sharks at the highest levels of government...

Diego: @diegocardenosa (instagram), @DiegoCardenosa (twitter), https://case.fiu.edu/about/directory/profiles/cardenosa-diego.html

Ali:  @SharkTrustUk (twitter), @thesharktrust (insta), https://www.sharktrust.org/FAQs/ali-hood

You can find references to the papers they discuss here https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03173-9 and here https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982221011982, as well as check out a free breakdown of Pacoureau et al here https://saveourseas.com/going-going-going-oceanic-shark-species-on-the-decline/. 

You can find out more about these issues by heading to the Save Our Seas (SOSF) website (https://saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/). 

Becoming scientists and overcoming barriers with Alifa Haque, Dr Catherine Macdonald and Jasmin Graham

*TW: This is a powerful and very important conversation, however, there are references to systemic racism, sexism, discrimination and sexual assault which some listeners may find triggering [32-47 mins]*

Pursuing a career in marine science can be hugely rewarding. You can make a living studying the ocean and its inhabitants, and answering those important questions that one day might help save our seas – pretty cool, right? But setting out on the scientific path can also be a daunting, and at times, overwhelming experience. Where do you even begin? How can you get a foot in the door? Should you do a PhD? What should your research question be? And what if you don’t ‘fit the mould’?! If you’re about to take the plunge into science, or are just considering dipping in a toe, then fear not - this week we have amazing shark scientists Alifa Haque, Catherine Macdonald and Jasmine Graham on the pod to discuss their own journeys into science, the triumphs and challenges along the way, and any advice they have for budding scientists out there. We also discuss some of the systemic and structural barriers still present, and how the scientific community can work to make science a more inclusive, representative and accessible profession, on both an individual and institutional level. 

Alifa: https://saveourseas.com/project-leader/alifa-bintha-haque/, @alifa_haque (twitter), @haque.alifa (Instagram)

Jasmin: @Elasmo_Gal (twitter), @MISS_elasmo, https://www.misselasmo.org/, https://www.marscilace.org/

Catherine: Field School (www.getintothefield.com), RSMAS (rsmas.miami.edu), Instagram: @drcatmac, Twitter: @dr_catmac