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Title: The reproductive biology of lamnoidsharks.
Creator: Gilmore, R. G., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Date Issued: 1991
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007407
Subject Headings: Sharks--Reproduction, Lamniformes, Mackerel sharks
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The Functional Morphology of Shark Control Surfaces: A Comparative Analysis.
Creator: Hoffmann, Sarah Louise, Porter, Marianne E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Sharks are an objectively diverse group of animals; ranging in maximum size from 2,000cm (whale shark) to 17cm (dwarf lantern shark); occupying habitats that are periodically terrestrial (epaulette shark) to the deepest parts of the ocean (frilled shark); relying on a diversity of diets from plankton to marine mammals; with vast amounts of morphology diversity such as the laterally expanded heads of hammerhead species, the elongate caudal fins of thresher species, and the tooth embedded...
Show moreSharks are an objectively diverse group of animals; ranging in maximum size from 2,000cm (whale shark) to 17cm (dwarf lantern shark); occupying habitats that are periodically terrestrial (epaulette shark) to the deepest parts of the ocean (frilled shark); relying on a diversity of diets from plankton to marine mammals; with vast amounts of morphology diversity such as the laterally expanded heads of hammerhead species, the elongate caudal fins of thresher species, and the tooth embedded rostrum of saw shark species representing some of the anatomical extremes. Yet despite these obvious differences in morphology, physiology, and ecology, the challenges associated with studying hard to access, large bodied, pelagic animals have limited our comparative understanding of form and function as it relates to swimming within this group. The majority of shark swimming studies examine species that succeed in captivity, which are usually benthic associated sharks that spend time resting on the substrate. These studies have also been limited by the use of flumes, in which the unidirectional flow and small working area precludes the analysis of larger animals, volitional swimming, and maneuvering. The few existing volitional kinematics studies on sharks quantify two-dimensional kinematics which are unable to capture movements not observable in the plane of reference. With this study, we quantified the volitional swimming kinematics of sharks in relation to morphological, physiological, and ecological variation among species. We developed a technique to analyze three-dimensional (3D) kinematics in a semi-natural, large volume environment, which, to our knowledge, provides the first3D analysis of volitional maneuvering in sharks. We demonstrated that Pacific spiny dogfish and bonnethead sharks rotate the pectoral fins substantially during yaw (horizontal) maneuvering and is correlated with turning performance. We proposed that ecomorphological differences correlate with the varied maneuvering strategies we observed between the two species. We also found that there is some mechanical constraint on shark pectoral fin shape that is explained by phylogenetic relationships but describe a continuum of morphological variables within that range. We propose standardized terminology and methodology for the future assessment of shark pectoral fin morphology and function. As with previous studies, the ease of access to species was a challenge in this study and future studies should continue to assess the functional ecomorphology of shark pectoral fins among species.
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Date Issued: 2019
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013217
Subject Headings: Sharks, Morphology (Animals), Kinematics
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: FINE-SCALE MOVEMENT PATTERNS OF THE BLACKTIP SHARK AT A MIGRATION TERMINUS.
Creator: Stolee, Ryan, Kajiura, Stephen, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Many marine species make use of the expanse of the ocean by traveling great distances to fulfill life history requirements. The blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, is a medium sized species associated near the coast found circumglobally in temperate waters. In the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, blacktips migrate in large aggregations along the eastern coast of the United States annually from the Carolinas in the summer months to a terminus in southeastern Florida in the winter. What daily...
Show moreMany marine species make use of the expanse of the ocean by traveling great distances to fulfill life history requirements. The blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, is a medium sized species associated near the coast found circumglobally in temperate waters. In the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, blacktips migrate in large aggregations along the eastern coast of the United States annually from the Carolinas in the summer months to a terminus in southeastern Florida in the winter. What daily movement patterns these adult sharks undergo during their multi-month residency at this southern terminus has largely been unquantified. I employed fin-mounted accelerometer tag packages to record high-resolution data from multiple blacktip sharks (n=8) during their winter residency in southeast Florida. Diel variation in behavior through depth range and the swimming kinematics were analyzed, while pseudo tracks were reconstructed to visually inspect post-release movement. Depth did not show significant variation between diel periods using a mixed model, with individual mean depths ranging from 1.43 – 39.20 m. Velocity was lower than expected for comparative studies of sharks, where overall mean values ranged from 0.15 – 0.93 m s-1. Diel period velocity comparison was also found to be insignificant. Tail beat frequency was found to have a group mean of 0.72 Hz, similar to other studies using different methods of the same population. The subset of tags analyzed for pseudo tracks (n=3) showed a swim away from the catch event towards the east. This data adds to the knowledge of blacktip shark movement, and contributes to the baseline comprehension of a population that is an important coastal fisheries species.
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Date Issued: 2021
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013859
Subject Headings: Blacktip shark, Movement
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The establishment and study of two elasmobranch cell lines.
Creator: Poyer, James Christopher., Florida Atlantic University, Hartmann, James X.
Abstract/Description: The present study describes the first cell lines produced from members of class Chondrichthyes. Explants of brain tissue from Carcharhinus falciformis (silky shark) and Ginglymostoma cirratum (nurse shark) were incubated in a mammalian medium modified with the addition of urea, trimethylamine N-oxide, NaCl, and bovine serum. Primary monolayers were passaged with 0.025% trypsin in a modified saline solution. Silky shark cells grew optimally at 29C. The population doubling time for C....
Show moreThe present study describes the first cell lines produced from members of class Chondrichthyes. Explants of brain tissue from Carcharhinus falciformis (silky shark) and Ginglymostoma cirratum (nurse shark) were incubated in a mammalian medium modified with the addition of urea, trimethylamine N-oxide, NaCl, and bovine serum. Primary monolayers were passaged with 0.025% trypsin in a modified saline solution. Silky shark cells grew optimally at 29C. The population doubling time for C. falciformis cells at passage 29 was 67 hours. For G. cirratum cells at passage 6 the population doubling was 84 hours. Silky shark cells grew over a broad range of osmolalities from 315 mOsm to a 1664 mOsm with optimal growth at 650 mOsm. A medium containing 10% dimethylsulfoxide allowed for cryopreservation with greater than 65% viability upon recovery. Current theories of elasmobranch osmoregulation are discussed in light of experimental data collected from studies conducted on the silky shark cell line.
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Date Issued: 1992
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14795
Subject Headings: Sharks, Cell culture, Chondrichthyes
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: NOT SO STRAIGHT FORWARD: SWIMMING, MANEUVERING, AND FEEDING KINEMATICS OF THE SCALLOPED HAMMERHEAD (SPHYRNA LEWINI).
Creator: Heerdegen, Ivan, Porter, Marianne E., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Many studies on shark swimming have examined kinematic variables along straight tracks or under controlled flow speeds in flumes, but there is less known about unsteady swimming during maneuvering or feeding. Sharks may adjust their speed, undulatory kinematics, or body curvature to accommodate different actions. This study quantified variations in kinematics during straight swimming, maneuvering, and feeding in scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). I obtained video of three juvenile...
Show moreMany studies on shark swimming have examined kinematic variables along straight tracks or under controlled flow speeds in flumes, but there is less known about unsteady swimming during maneuvering or feeding. Sharks may adjust their speed, undulatory kinematics, or body curvature to accommodate different actions. This study quantified variations in kinematics during straight swimming, maneuvering, and feeding in scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). I obtained video of three juvenile scalloped hammerheads, developed an ethogram assessing three behavioral categories, and tracked points along the body’s midline. I found that velocity was lower during feeding compared to maneuvering and straight swimming, while body curvature increased during feeding turns but decreased with increasing velocity. These data will provide insight into kinematic variations in hammerhead sharks across ontogeny and among behaviors, ultimately expanding on the relationship between form and function. This also provides context for varying behaviors and trends within the movement ecology paradigm.
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Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014079
Subject Headings: Kinematics, Hammerhead sharks
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A Comparative Study on the Tensile Properties of Shark Skin.
Creator: Creager, Shelby, Porter, Marianne C., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Our goal was to assess regional differences in denticle density and skin tensile properties in four coastal species of shark. We hypothesized that the denticle density, tensile strength (MPa), stiffness (MPa), and toughness of skin (MJ·m^-3) would vary regionally along the body of an individual and among species. An hourglass-shaped punch was used to extract the skin samples at 10 anatomical landmarks and denticle density was quantified. Denticle density varied significantly among both...
Show moreOur goal was to assess regional differences in denticle density and skin tensile properties in four coastal species of shark. We hypothesized that the denticle density, tensile strength (MPa), stiffness (MPa), and toughness of skin (MJ·m^-3) would vary regionally along the body of an individual and among species. An hourglass-shaped punch was used to extract the skin samples at 10 anatomical landmarks and denticle density was quantified. Denticle density varied significantly among both regions and species, and showed a significant species by region interaction. Skin samples were tested in tension at a strain rate of 2 mm-s until failure. We found significant species and region effects for all tensile and denticle density properties. Also, denticle density increases with skin stiffness but decreases with toughness. Shark skin toughness is similar to that of mammalian tendons. These data show shark skin functions as an exotendon, able to conserve energy during swimming.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004761, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004761
Subject Headings: Sharks--Anatomy., Sharks--Locomotion., Surfaces (Physics), Biophysics.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: THREE-DIMENSIONAL MOVEMENT AND HABITAT USE OF YOUNG WHITE SHARKS (CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS) IN THE NORTHWEST ATLANTIC OCEAN.
Creator: Shaw, Rachel Lynn, Ajemian, Matthew, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Recent research confirmed white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) nursery habitat off Long Island, New York; however, additional research is required to determine the habitat use and fine-scale movements of young-of-the-year and juvenile white sharks within this nursery. Between 2016 and 2019, twenty-five white sharks were fitted with satellite and acoustic tags to better define habitat use. Individuals exhibited horizontal movements parallel to Long Island’s southern shoreline and coastal New...
Show moreRecent research confirmed white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) nursery habitat off Long Island, New York; however, additional research is required to determine the habitat use and fine-scale movements of young-of-the-year and juvenile white sharks within this nursery. Between 2016 and 2019, twenty-five white sharks were fitted with satellite and acoustic tags to better define habitat use. Individuals exhibited horizontal movements parallel to Long Island’s southern shoreline and coastal New Jersey. Log-likelihood chi-square analyses determined preference for water column depth, SSTs, sea surface salinities, and chlorophyll a concentration. Vertical analysis of diving behavior revealed swimming behavior primarily in the upper 20 m of the water column, in temperatures between 18°C and 20°C. Generalized additive mixed modeling suggested SSTs above 20.5°C affected dive depth. These results can help improve characterization of essential fish habitat for young white sharks and provide data to determine the species’ susceptibility to anthropogenic activities.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013440
Subject Headings: Carcharodon carcharias, White shark, Marine nurseries, Sharks--Ecology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Land birds in the stomachs of tiger sharks Galeocerdo cuvieri (Peron and Lesueur).
Creator: Dodrill, Jon W., Gilmore, R. G., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Date Issued: 1978
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007113
Subject Headings: Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvieri, Birds, Stomach
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Reproductive biology of lamnoid sharks.
Creator: Gilmore, R. G., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Date Issued: 1993
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3333192
Subject Headings: Sharks, Lamniformes, Reproductive biology, Embryonic development, Elasmobranchs
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Temporal resolution and spectral sensitivity of the visual system of three coastal shark speciesfrom different light environments.
Creator: McComb, Dawn Michelle, Frank, Tamara M., Hueter, R. E., Kajiura, Stephen M., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007091
Subject Headings: Sharks, Visual system, Spectral sensitivity, Night Vision
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: ORIENTATION OF BLACKTIP SHARKS (CARCHARHINUS LIMBATUS) TO UNDERWATER SOUND.
Creator: Sullivan, Caroline, Kajiura, Stephen, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Sharks respond to low frequency pulsed sounds but are documented to lack the capacity to detect these sounds beyond the acoustic near field. The purpose of my study was to quantify the distance blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) oriented to sound stimuli, and determine if responses occurred in the far field. Using an aerial drone and underwater speaker, C. limbatus were filmed responding to sound stimuli (100 – 200 Hz; 200 – 400 Hz; and 400 – 800 Hz). Upon detection, C. limbatus elicited...
Show moreSharks respond to low frequency pulsed sounds but are documented to lack the capacity to detect these sounds beyond the acoustic near field. The purpose of my study was to quantify the distance blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) oriented to sound stimuli, and determine if responses occurred in the far field. Using an aerial drone and underwater speaker, C. limbatus were filmed responding to sound stimuli (100 – 200 Hz; 200 – 400 Hz; and 400 – 800 Hz). Upon detection, C. limbatus elicited a 20 – 160° turn from the speaker, and rapidly swam away. Sharks responded to all frequencies from at least 62 m, and 71.6% of all responses (n = 209) occurred in the far field. This indicates that blacktip sharks can detect and orient away from a sound stimulus at distances that extend beyond the acoustic near field, which suggests that they are not detecting sound using the inner ear otoconia.
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Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014104
Subject Headings: Blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, Underwater sound
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: MIGRATORY PATTERNS AND SEXUAL SEGREGATION IN THE BLACKTIP SHARK, CARCHARHINUS LIMBATUS, OFF THE UNITED STATES EAST COAST.
Creator: Bowers, Mary Elizabeth, Kajiura, Stephen M., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Many marine species distributions have shifted poleward in response to global climate change. Many environmental characteristics will be affected by climate change including temperature and phytoplankton concentration; yet, photoperiod will remain the same. It is imperative to gather baseline distribution data on migratory species so that these shifts can be measured and mitigated. Sex-specific differences in reproductive strategies cause sexual segregation, sex-specific differences in...
Show moreMany marine species distributions have shifted poleward in response to global climate change. Many environmental characteristics will be affected by climate change including temperature and phytoplankton concentration; yet, photoperiod will remain the same. It is imperative to gather baseline distribution data on migratory species so that these shifts can be measured and mitigated. Sex-specific differences in reproductive strategies cause sexual segregation, sex-specific differences in spatial distribution. Female blacktip sharks exhibit a synchronous, biennial reproductive cycle in which one year of reproduction is followed by a resting year. Acoustic telemetry can be used in conjunction with collaborative networks to track migratory species over great distances. However, the irregular spacing of acoustic receivers often results in sporadic detection data, which can lead to skewed distribution information. This project developed and tested an analysis process to regularize sporadic acoustic detection data. Those regularized data were then applied to cluster analyses to determine the seasonal spatial distributions of blacktip sharks, Carcharhinus limbatus, off the United States East Coast and corresponding environmental correlates of latitudinal movement. Sexes of this population were investigated separately and in combination. Differences in distribution were evaluated between sexes, and within females, between reproductive states. These data showed that the U.S. East Coast blacktip shark population distributes from Palm Beach County, FL to Long Island, NY and exhibits sexual segregation, in which females display a more truncated migratory pattern than males.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014172
Subject Headings: Blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, Fishes--Migration
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Observationson the embryos of the longfin mako, Isurus paucus, and the bigeye thresher, Alopias superciliosus.
Creator: Gilmore, R. G., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Date Issued: 1983
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007105
Subject Headings: Longfin mako, Isurus paucus, Alopias, Thresher sharks, Embryos
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: First North American continental record of the longfin mako (Isurus paucus Guitart Manday).
Creator: Dodrill, Jon W., Gilmore, R. G., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Date Issued: 1979
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3174424
Subject Headings: Mako sharks, Isurus paucus, Pelagic fishes, Fins (Anatomy), Species
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Reproduction and embryonic development of the sand tiger shark, Odontaspis Taurus (Rafinesque).
Creator: Gilmore, R. G., Dodrill, Jon W., Linley, P. A., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Date Issued: 1983
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3336783
Subject Headings: Odontaspis taurus, Sand tiger shark, Embryonic development, Reproduction
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Electrogenic metals for elasmobranch bycatch mitigation.
Creator: Smith, Kieran Thomas., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Commercial longline fishing results in large amounts of incidental bycatch of elasmobranch fishes (sharks, skates, and rays). Teleost species lack electrosensory systems and development of technologies which target the ampullary organs of sharks provides an avenue to selectively deter elasmobranchs without affecting the catch rate of target teleosts. Electric field measurements and a controlled scientific longline study were conducted testing whether the lanthanide metal neodymium or zinc...
Show moreCommercial longline fishing results in large amounts of incidental bycatch of elasmobranch fishes (sharks, skates, and rays). Teleost species lack electrosensory systems and development of technologies which target the ampullary organs of sharks provides an avenue to selectively deter elasmobranchs without affecting the catch rate of target teleosts. Electric field measurements and a controlled scientific longline study were conducted testing whether the lanthanide metal neodymium or zinc/graphite might reduce elasmobranch catch per unit effort (CPUE). Baited longline hooks were treated with neodymium and zinc/graphite and catch rates were compared to that of controls. Shark CPUE decreased by 60% on neodymium treated hooks and 80% on zinc/graphite treated hooks. The effectiveness of both treatments varied among species with significant reductions shown for Atlantic sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon terranovae) but less dramatic differences for others. Zinc/graphite is potentially a viable tool for reduction of shark bycatch in a commercial longline fishery.
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Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3361053
Subject Headings: Fishery conservation, Sharks, Conservation, Lanthanide shift reagents, Wildlife management
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Lanthanide metals as potential shark deterrents.
Creator: McCutcheon, Sara M., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Sharks comprise a large portion of bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries worldwide. Lanthanide metals have been proposed as shark repellents. This study quantified the normalized voltage of lanthanide metals in seawater and found that there was no difference in normalized voltage among the six tested metals. Temperature and salinity had a significant effect on lanthanide normalized voltage. The output at 18ºC was significantly greater than at both 12 and 24ºC. The normalized voltage was...
Show moreSharks comprise a large portion of bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries worldwide. Lanthanide metals have been proposed as shark repellents. This study quantified the normalized voltage of lanthanide metals in seawater and found that there was no difference in normalized voltage among the six tested metals. Temperature and salinity had a significant effect on lanthanide normalized voltage. The output at 18ºC was significantly greater than at both 12 and 24ºC. The normalized voltage was significantly greater in freshwater than brackish or seawater. The dissolution rate for the lanthanides varied from -1.6 to -0.2g/h. As the metals dissolved the voltage remained constant. In a behavioral assay, neodymium was ineffective at repelling bonnethead sharks (Sphyrna tiburo) tested individually and in groups, and lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) in groups. Due to high cost, fast dissolution rates, and lack of deterrent effects, lanthanide metals are not recommended for use in mitigating shark bycatch.
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Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3342198
Subject Headings: Metals, Speciation, Lanthanide shift reagents, Shark attacks, Prevention
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Hydrodynamic functions of the wing-shaped heads of hammerhead sharks.
Creator: Barousse, Julien., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Abstract/Description: The hydrodynamics of three different shark heads: Eusphyra blochii (Winghead shark), Carcharhinus acronotus (Blacknose shark) and Sphyrna tiburo (Bonnethead shark) were investigated. Force transducer measurement was used to explore how the cephalofoil (wing-shaped head) affects maneuverability and efficiency. As the dynamic behavior of maneuvering wings differs from that of the steady state motion, experiments have been conducted to simulate: 1) steady-state (no yaw motion) constant velocity...
Show moreThe hydrodynamics of three different shark heads: Eusphyra blochii (Winghead shark), Carcharhinus acronotus (Blacknose shark) and Sphyrna tiburo (Bonnethead shark) were investigated. Force transducer measurement was used to explore how the cephalofoil (wing-shaped head) affects maneuverability and efficiency. As the dynamic behavior of maneuvering wings differs from that of the steady state motion, experiments have been conducted to simulate: 1) steady-state (no yaw motion) constant velocity swimming, 2) constant forward velocity with yawing motion of the head and 3) turning maneuvers. Different range of velocities, angle of attack, yaw frequency and yaw amplitude were tested. Drag and lift coefficients were calculated and compared. The lift coefficient of Winghead shark is much higher compared to the other sharks. The lift-to-drag ratio showed that the Winghead shark has a hydrodynamic advantage compared to Blacknose shark and Bonnethead shark.
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Date Issued: 2009
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2795459
Subject Headings: Aquatic animals (Physiology), Adaptation (Biology), Sharks, Locomotion, Predation (Biology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Ecomorphology of Shark Electroreceptors.
Creator: Cornett, Anthony D., Kajiura, Stephen M., Florida Atlantic University
Abstract/Description: Sharks possess an electrosensory system which allows the detection of electric fields . How this system varies among related taxa and among species inhabiting different environments remains unexplored. Electroreceptor number was quantified for representative species of related taxa (genera, families, orders) from different environments (pelagic, coastal, deepwater) and taxa from similar environments to determine potential phylogenetic constraint or evolutionary convergence. Coastal open water...
Show moreSharks possess an electrosensory system which allows the detection of electric fields . How this system varies among related taxa and among species inhabiting different environments remains unexplored. Electroreceptor number was quantified for representative species of related taxa (genera, families, orders) from different environments (pelagic, coastal, deepwater) and taxa from similar environments to determine potential phylogenetic constraint or evolutionary convergence. Coastal open water sharks possess the greatest number of electroreceptors; deepwater sharks the least. Pelagic and coastal benthic sharks retain comparable electrosensory pore numbers despite inhabiting vastly different environments. Electrosensory pores were primarily located in ventral distributions, except among coastal open water sharks which possess roughly even distributions around the head. Among related species and genera, pore numbers and distribution are comparable, with greater variation among higher taxa. Results implicate evolutionary convergence as the primary influence in electroreceptor development, while phylogenetic constraint establishes similar base values for number and distribution.
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Date Issued: 2006
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000737
Subject Headings: Sharks--Ecology, Sharks--Morphology, Echolocation (Physiology), Aquatic animals--Physiology, Senses and sensation, Adaptation (Biology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Anatomy and physiology of the elasmobranch olfactory system.
Creator: Meredith, Tricia L., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: The olfactory system is the most highly developed system for molecular sensing in vertebrates. Despite their reputation for being particularly olfactory driven, little is known about how this sense functions in elasmobranch fishes. The goal of this dissertation was to examine the morphology and physiology of elasmobranchs to compare their olfactory system with teleost fishes and more derived vertebrates. To test the hypotheses that elasmobranchs possess greater olfactory sensitivities than...
Show moreThe olfactory system is the most highly developed system for molecular sensing in vertebrates. Despite their reputation for being particularly olfactory driven, little is known about how this sense functions in elasmobranch fishes. The goal of this dissertation was to examine the morphology and physiology of elasmobranchs to compare their olfactory system with teleost fishes and more derived vertebrates. To test the hypotheses that elasmobranchs possess greater olfactory sensitivities than teleosts and that lamellar surface area is correlated to sensitivity, I compared the surface area of the olfactory lamellae and the olfactory sensitivities of five phylogenetically diverse elasmobranch species. The olfactory thresholds reported here (10-9 to 10-6 M) were comparable to those previously reported for teleosts and did not correlate with lamellar surface area. Since aquatic species are subject to similar environmental amino acid levels, they appear to have converged upon similar amino acid sensitivities. To test the hypothesis that elasmobranchs are able to detect bile salt odorants despite lacking ciliated olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), the type of ORN that mediates bile salt detection in the teleosts, I quantified the olfactory specificity and sensitivity of two elasmobranch species to four, teleost-produced C24 bile salts. Both species responded to all four bile salts, but demonstrated smaller relative responses and less sensitivity compared to teleosts and agnathans. This may indicate that elasmobranchs don't rely on bile salts to detect teleost prey. Also, the olfactory system of elasmobranchs contains molecular olfactory receptors for bile salts independent of those that detect amino acids, similar to teleosts., In some elasmobranch species, each olfactory bulb (OB) is physically partitioned into two hemi-bulbs; however, the functional significance of this morphology is not fully understood. The organization of the OBs in three species with varying OB morphologies was examined to test the hypothesis that the elasmobranch OB is somatotopically arranged. Glomeruli in the OB received projections from ORNs in 3-4 olfactory lamellae situated immediately anterior. These results indicate a somatotopic arrangement of the elasmobranch OB, which may be unique among vertebrate olfactory systems and potentially led to the hemi-OB morphology.
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Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3333058
Subject Headings: Condrichthyes, Sense organs, Condrichthyes, Physiology, Sharks, Physiology, Adaptation (Biology), Aquatic animals, Physiology
Format: Document (PDF)

FAU Theses and Dissertations (18)	+ -
HBOI Faculty Contributions (7)	+ -

Sharks (9)	+ -
Adaptation (Biology) (4)	+ -
Blacktip shark (3)	+ -
Sharks--Ecology (3)	+ -
Aquatic animals (2)	+ -

Carcharhinus limbatus (2)	+ -
Conservation (2)	+ -
Ecology (2)	+ -
Elasmobranchs (2)	+ -
Embryonic development (2)	+ -
Isurus paucus (2)	+ -
Kinematics (2)	+ -
Lamniformes (2)	+ -
Lanthanide shift reagents (2)	+ -
Locomotion (2)	+ -
Physiology (2)	+ -
Predation (Biology) (2)	+ -
Alopias (1)	+ -
Anatomy (1)	+ -
Aquatic animals (Physiology) (1)	+ -
Aquatic animals--Physiology (1)	+ -
Aquatic resources conservation (1)	+ -
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Biophysics. (1)	+ -
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Bull shark (1)	+ -
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Carcharodon carcharias (1)	+ -
Cell culture (1)	+ -
Chondrichthyes (1)	+ -

Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (18)	+ -
article (7)	+ -

Charles E. Schmidt College of Science (13)	+ -
Florida Atlantic University (12)	+ -
Department of Biological Sciences (11)	+ -
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (7)	+ -
Gilmore, R. G. (6)	+ -

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