James Sulikowski and students work to conserve endangered shark species
Despite their fearsome reputation as man-eaters, sharks are an integral part of the environment; they play an important role in maintaining the health of the ocean's ecosystem. However, these majestic creatures are in need of proper management and conservation efforts, as more than 120 species of sharks are currently listed as threatened or endangered.
To help manage and conserve the Porbeagle species of sharks, James Sulikowki, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Marine Sciences, and his laboratory of undergraduate and graduate students are using satellite tags, a relatively new technology, to study the physiological and behavioral ecology of these sharks and their young, captured in the Gulf of Maine.
The Porbeagle (Lamna nasus) is a predatory, endothermic shark that typically inhabits the upper pelagic zone from the surface to 200 meters deep. In the United States, this shark is considered a species of concern and, like many other sharks, is in need of concentrated conservation actions.
Sulikowski and his team are testing the hypothesis that the Gulf of Maine region serves as a nursery ground for this species, which would mean that this habitat is critical for their conservation and ultimate survival.