Topic Draft #1 : Sharks in the Bahamas

This topic submitted by Matt McWilliams ( mcwillmr@muohio.edu) at 3:40 PM on 3/19/07.

Tropical Field Courses -Interdisciplinary Studies-Miami University

The sharks of the Bahamas

An examination of several Bahaman shark species and their impact on the ecological and human interaction in the Bahamas, why they are becoming endangered, and what is being done to prevent their extinction

1.The Tiger Shark
a. Species facts
b. Its place in the Bahaman ecosystem
c. Its interaction with humans

2. Hammerhead shark
d. Species facts
e. Its place in the Bahaman ecosystem
f. Its interaction with humans

3. Blue shark
g. Species facts
h. Its place in the Bahaman ecosystem
i. Its interaction with humans

4. Caribbean reef shark
j. Species facts
k. Its place in the Bahaman ecosystem
l. Its interaction with humans

5. Reasons for the population decline
a. Over fishing of the sharks
b. Over fishing of their prey
c. Sport fishing
d. Removal to increase tourism
e. habitat loss

6. Attempts to reverse their population decline
a. Behavioral studies
b. Education in attempting to change the image of the Òman-eaterÓ
c. Shark dives
d. Tiger beach

Sources

Holland , Jennifer (2007 march). Sharks of the Bahamas. National Geographic, Vol. 211 No. 3, 116-137.

http://new-brunswick.net/new-brunswick/sharks/

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~carlm/tigershark.html

Natural History Notes on Tiger Sharks, Galeocerdo tigrinus, Caught at Key West, Florida, with Emphasis on Food and Feeding Habits
E. W. Gudger
Copeia, Vol. 1949, No. 1. (Apr. 15, 1949), pp. 39-47.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0045-8511%2819490415%293%3A1949%3A1%3C39%3ANHNOTS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-K

A Note on the Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna Zyg¾na) and its Food (in Special Articles)
E. W. Gudger
Science, New Series, Vol. 25, No. 652. (Jun. 28, 1907), pp. 1005-1006.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0036-8075%2819070628%293%3A25%3A652%3C1005%3AANOTHS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-5

Seasonal Abundance of Hammerhead Sharks off Cape Canaveral, Florida (in Ichthyological Notes)
Randy D. Jennings
Copeia, Vol. 1985, No. 1. (Feb. 11, 1985), pp. 223-225.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0045-8511%2819850211%293%3A1985%3A1%3C223%3ASAOHSO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-T

Movements and Distribution of Hammerhead Shark Pups on Their Natal Grounds
Kim N. Holland; Bradley M. Wetherbee; John D. Peterson; Christopher G. Lowe
Copeia, Vol. 1993, No. 2. (May 3, 1993), pp. 495-502.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0045-8511%2819930503%293%3A1993%3A2%3C495%3AMADOHS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-P

Many Sharks May Be Headed Toward Extinction (in International Conservation News)
Charles A. Manire; Samuel H. Gruber
Conservation Biology, Vol. 4, No. 1. (Mar., 1990), pp. 10-11. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0888-8892%28199003%294%3A1%3C10%3AMSMBHT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-N

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