World of Sharks

How do I build a career in shark science? Featuring the guests of season 4!

Starting out on your own career journey can be a little daunting, which is why we’ve put together this special episode of World of Sharks, filled with advice, experiences and anecdotes from the guests of season 4. We talk about how to make your dreams of working in shark science and conservation a reality – from how to approach professors, to finding your niche, to overcoming setbacks and staying true to yourself.

You can find additional resources in the shownotes: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast

You can keep track of when our grants and funding opportunities are announced by following us on social media, we are @saveourseasfoundation on instagram and @SaveOurSeas on twitter!

How might pollution impact sharks? With Franco Cristiani

Plastics. Oil spills. Industrial chemicals. Herbicides. Pesticides…the list of substances that we have dumped in the sea is endless. But scientists are only just beginning to understand the true extent of the impact of marine pollutants on marine life. Fish biologist and SOSF project leader Franco Cristiani is investigating the effects of harmful pollutants on chondrichthyans, using the American elephant fish (a chimaera) as a model species. We invited Franco onto World of Sharks to discuss this important research and learn about the potential consequences of marine pollution on the reproductive health, immune function and overall survival of sharks and their relatives. And, of course, we take some time to talk about the gloriously weird and funky American elephant fish!

Shownotes: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast

Find out more about Franco and his project here: https://saveourseas.com/project-leader/franco-cristiani/ and follow him on twitter (@franco_c89). 

You can also follow us on instagram (@saveourseasfoundation) and twitter (@SaveOurSeas).

Translating science into conservation action with Rob Bullock and Henriette Grimmel

We’re heading back to the Seychelles this week to chat with research and programme directors for the Save Our Seas Foundation D’Arros Research Centre (SOSF-DRC), Dr Rob Bullock and Henriette Grimmel! Both Rob and Henriette have lots of experience and knowledge in the application of scientific research to marine policy, spatial planning and conservation. And, where they live and work – D’Arros, located in the outer islands of the Seychelles – is the perfect example of how science can be applied to protect and restore marine ecosystems. We talk about the magic of D'Arros, the impressive suite of long-term monitoring programmes carried out by the SOSF-DRC, and the long and complex process of designating and managing a Marine Protected Area (MPA). There are also cameos from the Aldabra giant tortoises, baby sharks, Sir David Attenborough and a VERY friendly manta ray called Jackson. 

Shownotes: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast

 

You can find out more about the D'Arros Research Centre here https://saveourseas.com/sosf-darros-research-centre/ or by following them on instagram, @darrosresearchcentre. 

 

And you can find us on instagram (@saveourseasfoundation) and twitter (@SaveOurSeas). 

Ghost sharks: chimaeras, the sharks’ forgotten cousins with Dr Luz Erandi Saldaña Ruiz

It's spooky season! And we're taking the opportunity to celebrate some close relatives of sharks and rays who don't get talked about as much as they deserve: the chimaeras. Also known as ghost sharks, spookfish, ratfish and rabbitfish, these ancient creatures glide in the dark of the deep ocean, much of their life shrouded in mystery. Helping us learn more about them is our guest, fish biologist and SOSF project leader Dr Luz Erandi Saldaña Ruiz. In this episode we learn all about Luz's work, which aims to improve the management of data-poor and data-limited fisheries in Mexico and find out all there is to know about the sharks' enigmatic cousins, who Luz works closely with. Digressions include Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas, sea creatures that defy reality, and a shark with starry skin.

 

You can follow Luz on Instagram (@erandiscienceart), twitter (@Sarudanya) and Facebook (ErandiScienceArt). You can also read more about her project here: https://saveourseas.com/project/catch-up-mexicos-shark-fisheries/. 

You can find the shownotes for this episode here: https://saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast

You can find out more about us by following @saveourseasfoundation on instagram, and @SaveOurSeas on twitter.

 

 

Shark brains: how are they wired? With Dr Kara E. Yopak

Have you ever wondered what a shark’s brain looks like? How the brain of a goblin shark compares to a mako? What makes a whale shark tick? Or…what it’s like to get a shark brain in the post?

These are all things that Dr Kara E. Yopak, shark brain expert and director of the EXCELLENTLY named ZoMBiE lab knows a thing or two about! Kara is interested in what different shark brains look like and how these differences have evolved over time. She looks at variations in brain size between species, as well as differences in how the brain is organised and structured. This information can give us insight into how sharks live, their habitat, and even their behaviour. Grab your lab coats, because neuroscience is served…

Join the zombie squad and find out more about Kara by following her on social media (@ProfSharkbrain, @YopakZoMBiELab, https://yopaklab.com). 

You can find the shownotes for this episode here: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast and find out more about us by following @saveourseasfoundation on instagram and @SaveOurSeas on twitter. 

 

Saving sharks in the Seychelles with Ellie Moulinie and Dillys Pouponeau

This week, we are transporting you to a tropical island haven for sharks and rays in the beautiful outer islands of the Seychelles! We will be guided by the wonderful Dillys Pouponeau (@dillyseychelles) and Ellie Moulinie (@miss_tropics), who are research officers at the Save Our Seas Foundation D'Arros Research Centre. D'Arros island and its sister atoll, St. Joseph, have been labelled a 'pristine wilderness', with thriving coral reefs, sandy beaches, lush seagrass beds, dense mangrove forests and clear waters all bursting at the seams with life. But it is that way because of the hard work of the scientists and conservationists at D'Arros to restore, research and protect this incredible environment. In this episode we learn all about D'Arros and its inhabitants, including a whole suite of sharks from baby black-tip reef sharks to fully-grown bull and tiger sharks, and of course, the manta rays. And we find out all about Ellie and Dillys' research into these species, their great adventures into the 'crazy wild' Amirantes islands, and what it was like to grow up in the island nation.  

You can find out more about D'Arros by following them on social media (@darrosresearchcentre) or on their website: https://saveourseas.com/sosf-darros-research-centre

Shownotes: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast

 

How powerful is a shark’s sense of smell? With Dr Lauren Eve Simonitis

Sharks have a reputation as 'swimming noses' - but just how well can they smell?

This week we are diving into the fascinating world of snoot science with aquatic sensory biologist Dr Lauren Simonitis! Expect the ins and outs of shark noses, along with detours to explore the anti-predator strategies of sea slugs and cuttlefish, a shark that eats its greens, and a type of whale that inks while it poops. And we break down some famous myths about sharks…like do they really go into a feeding frenzy from the mere scent of blood?

Find out more about Lauren: @explauren, https://www.laurenevesimonitis.com/, https://www.misselasmo.org/

Find out more about us: @saveourseasfoundation (instagram and tiktok) @SaveOurSeas (twitter), www.saveourseas.com

Shownotes: https://saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast

Greenland Sharks: Old, Cold and Fascinating with Dr Julius Nielsen

Greenland sharks are the world's longest living vertebrate, with a longevity that can be measured in centuries. But what do they do during that long life? In this episode, we speak with scientist and "Greenland Shark Detective" Dr Julius Nielsen, who has studied these mysterious creatures for many years. Julius was part of the first team to estimate their extraordinary lifespan, and explains exactly how they did it. He also walks us through some other fascinating aspects of their biology and ecology, including what they eat (answer: pretty much anything), how deep they can go (pretty deep!), their reproductive habits (becoming sexually mature at 150 and then having hundreds of babies, anyone?!), and some very unusual parasites…

You can follow Julius on instagram and twitter: @juniel85

You can also follow Save Our Seas Foundation on instagram and tiktok (@saveourseasfoundation) and twitter (@SaveOurSeas). 

Shownotes for this episode: https://saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast

 

The history and politics of shark ”attacks” with Dr Chris Pepin-Neff

The impact of the Hollywood blockbuster Jaws on shark conservation, public perception and even policy-making has been studied since its release in 1975, but today we’re looking even further back in time to understand where that idea of sharks as man-eating monsters first came from, and how it gained traction to get to where we are today. It’s a fascinating story involving Victorian game hunters, shark “rabies”, the U.S. Navy, film soundtracks designed to make your heart race, and an Australian surgeon who decided to try his hand at marine biology. To walk us through all of this, we have an amazing guest who has pieced all of these puzzle pieces together – Dr Chris Pepin-Neff, senior lecturer in public policy at the University of Sydney, Save our Seas Foundation project leader and expert in shark bite politics.

You can follow Chris on twitter (@pepin_neff) or read more about them here https://saveourseas.com/project-leader/christopher-neff/ and find some of their research here https://sydney.academia.edu/ChrisPepinNeff. 

You can find the shownotes for this episode here: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast

Follow us on social media! We are @saveourseasfoundation on instagram and tiktok, and @SaveOurSeas on twitter

What can we learn from a shark’s DNA? With Professor Mahmood Shivji

Grab your labcoats! This week we are diving into the fascinating world of genetics to find out what we can learn from shark DNA with Mahmood Shivji, professor of marine science at Nova Southeastern University in Florida and director of the Guy Harvey Institute and Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center (SOSF-SRC). In this episode we discuss shark forensics, the magical healing abilities of white sharks, and what DNA can tell us about the conservation status of some of the world's most endangered species. 

Shownotes: https://saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast

Find out more about the Save Our Seas Foundation here: www.saveourseas.com. You can also find us on twitter (@SaveOurSeas) and instagram (@saveourseasfoundation).