Tiger sharks are often the focus of shark conservation work, with populations of the species being found around the world in tropical and temperate climates. For budding marine biologists, exciting tiger shark marine conservation volunteering opportunities are available, where participants get to interact with these creatures face to face.
Tiger sharks are one of the most fascinating species of shark, with a distinctive appearance and characteristics, and alarming threat to humans. These magnificent water creatures live primarily in tropical, temperate climates, and are considered sacred in Hawaii. To protect the species, shark conservation projects focusing specifically on tiger sharks are in operation, and these beasts of the ocean are often the focus of marine conservation volunteers.
Tiger sharks are a particularly large shark species, growing to a terrifying length of about 4 metres and weighing up to 635kg. With such size, it’s no wonder they pose a threat to humans, particularly since they love shallow, murky tropical waters. For the brave, however, those interested in marine biology conservation ca experience these creatures up close, free from cages or glass divides.
Hunting for Prey
Aside from their appreciation of a tasty human, tiger sharks will eat just about anything, and shark conservation workers don’t need to focus on a lack of food for these mammals. Being predators, their staple diet consists of smaller sharks, turtles, seals and other fish, and since they’re excellent hunters, they have the choice of the ocean. They are also excellent hunters, and their ability to find and capture prey is impeccable. Their heightened sensory perceptions mean that they can catch their prey with relative ease. With their excellent eyesight, they can spot their prey a mile away, even in murky water. And their acute sense of smell means that they can smell even a small amount of blood from quite some distance away, and are able to trace it back to the unsuspecting victim. They also have the remarkable ability to pick up on low-frequency pressure waves, so they know when something is alive and moving in nearby waters.
But they are also known for their inability to differentiate between what is nutritional, and what is rubbish, and a number of human rubbish items have been found in their stomachs. From car license plates to bicycle wheels, these animals will eat just about anything. So while a lack of food may not concern tiger shark conservationists, pollution of the sea with rubbish is more worrying.
Attacks on Humans
Since tiger sharks have superb hunting abilities, they pose a certain amount of risk to humans. In fact, they are responsible for a large percentage of fatal attacks on humans, second only to the great white shark. While marine biology conservationists and Hawaiians who believe the tiger shark to be sacred may strive to keep the animal safe, swimmers and holidaymakers may have a different opinion! But it is important to keep in mind that tourist activities such as shark cage diving may also be responsible for attracting sharks into more shallow, populated waters, which poses yet another problem for shark conservationists to address.
Marine biology
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Marine biology
* UPDATE: Inspired by YOU (the audience) and your response to this video, I’ve created a new YouTube series: Confessions of a Marine Biologist: http://www.youtube.com/sciallorg
Remember how everyone wanted to be a marine biologist at some point while growing up? Well, this video pays tribute to the wonderful and REAL world of marine biology. (Also, please keep in mind, we are actually working in these clips!)
Please share this video, especially with people who may consider marine science as a career! Hopefully, this makes their decision a little easier, and we are always recruiting 🙂
This video would not have been possible were it not for the amazing people (many of whom are featured here) that make working as a field researcher on the island of Moorea, French Polynesia so special an experience.
Featured researchers are studying various aspects of coral reef community ecology, and they are based out of the University of Florida, California State University-Northridge, the University of California-Santa Barbara, and Victoria University of Wellington.
For more information, please visit: http://sciall.org
Please take a moment and answer a short questionnaire after watching (I will use your answers to help me apply for funding to make new, even better videos–thanks in advance!!): http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CLWV2RX
Shot using GoPro Hero, Nikon D7000, Canon 550 Digital Elph
Song: “Sail” by AWOLNATION
(http://www.youtube.com/artist/AWOLNATION?feature=watch_metadata)
Want to be a marine biologist? (SAIL by AWOLNATION)
Marine biology