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PART 1: Biology of Great Whites
PART 1: Biology of Great Whites
1) General description:
1) General description:
Appearance: The Great White shark species typically have a robust, large, conical snouts and their upper and lower tail fin lobes are approximately the same size.
Coloration: These sharks have countershading meaning they have a white underside and a grey dorsal area which can sometimes brown or blue so that it gives an overall mottled appearance. It makes This makes it difficult for prey to spot the shark, as it sets apart the shark’s outline when seen from the side. As for what they look like above, the darker shade blends with the sea, so they expose a minimal silhouette against the sunlight.
Senses: They are intelligent and highly inquisitive creatures as they have a tremendous brain that consits all highly developed senses as an excellent hunter. Those senses are smell, hearing, touch, taste, sight, and electromagnetism. They have the most acute sense since their nostrils are on the underside of the snout it leads to an organ called the olfactory bulb. Their external ears are two small openings behind and above the eyes. But don't be fooled as they are powerful since inside are cells that sense all kinds of vibrations in the surrounding water.
Vision: They also have great vision since their retina from its eye is divided in two ways. One for day vision and the other for low-light and night. They can also roll their eyes backward into the socket when they feel threatened (The Ocean Portal Team). They also use electro-reception which means they can sense electrical fields. They can do this with the Ampullae of Lorenzini which is a series of pores on the shark’s snout that are filled with cells that can feel electrical currents' power and directions. Another way to detect prey is that they have a lateral line which extends along the middle their body from its tail to its head. This line is made of cells that can perceive vibrations in the water. As they can detect both the direction and amount of movement made by their prey.
Lifespan: Estimated to be up to 70 years or more.
Speed: Great white sharks can swim up to 25 km/h (16 mph) for short bursts and can dive to depths of 1,200 meters (3,900 feet). They can be found across continents such as Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa, and Oceania (The Ocean Portal Team).
Length: Males measure up to 3.4 to 4.0 meters (11 to 13 feet) while females can measure 4.6 to 4.9 meters (15 to 16 feet) on average.
Weight: 4,000-7,000 pounds
Smiling Great White Shark
Smiling Great White Shark
2) movements of your shark from the time it was tagged through today.
2) movements of your shark from the time it was tagged through today.
Where and when the shark was tagged and its most recent location.
My shark Rose was first tagged on October 14, 2020, at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and the recent ping is on April 15, 2024, around the waters by the state of Louisiana between the shallow waters and continental shelf of Mississippi Valley.
How often did your shark ping? Frequently, occasionally, or rarely?
Rose has pinged frequently like once or thrice a week as of this 2024 year that I tracked.
Does your shark ping more often near the coast or in the open ocean?
Rose often pinged between the coast and continental shelf so she rarely goes out into the open ocean. Therefore, she spends most of her time swimming in the shallow coastal waters by the southeast states.
Does your shark spend time near a specific underwater feature such as bays or estuaries, the continental shelf, an underwater canyon, or seamounts?
Displaying that she likes to spend time above the continental shelf and below the coast to describe the location she is in underwater features terms.
Does it appear that your shark was/is in a direct route somewhere? If so, where?
My shark Rose appeared to be going to a direct route somewhere which was by the Gulf of Mexico as she is traveling around Florida and into the Louisiana shallow waters. Based on the OCEARCH map below that area is called the Overwintering which is where they spend their time during December to May 15 which checks out why Rose was traveling there. Also, it is researched that many young sharks go to that area during the overwintering period as well, so it checks out since she is a juvenile shark.
Rose Tracking Patterns
Rose Tracking Patterns
A screen grab of my shark travels this semester
Map Proof of why Rose Traveled That Path
Map Proof of why Rose Traveled That Path
This map helps explain why my shark travelled where it did.
Great White Shark catching a sea lion
Rows of Great White Shark Teeth
Inside of rows of teeth on the bones
Ampullae of Lorenzini (the black pores)
Great White Shark Pup
3) the feeding and reproductive behaviors
3) the feeding and reproductive behaviors
Feeding: Its prey may include many fish species, invertebrates, and marine mammals such as dolphins and seals also seabirds, and other sharks. They sometimes eat dead whales' caresses. The type of teeth that great white sharks have are triangular in shape, so they are serrated, which allows them to grip and tear through their prey more effectively. Their teeth are made of enamel, dentin, and pulp which is more durable for tehri diet. What is cool is that when they lose their teeth or their it gets damage, they can replace them. As they have at least 50 rows of teeth that can number up to 300 so the rows of teeth gets made and pushes out the old ones. So, they are constantly getting fresh rows of teeth throughout their life.
To hunt their prey, they use Ampullae of Lorenzini which are pores on their snout that can use electro-reception meaning they can sense electrical fields within the ocean waters. Also, they have a lateral line that extends along the middle their body from its tail to its head which can sense vibrations as well.
Reproduction and mating: It was previously assumed that whale carcasses were an important location for sexually mature sharks to meet to mate. But according to fisherman Dick Ledgerwood, who watched two great white sharks mating in the area near Port Chalmers and Otago Harbor, in New Zealand (Animalia). It's theorized that great white sharks' mate in shallow water away from feeding areas and continually roll belly to belly during copulation (Animalia).
The mode of reproduction that the great white shark has is ovoviviparous, which means eggs develop and hatch in the uterus and continue to develop until birth and it is an 11-month gestation period (Animalia). Also, there can be up to 2-14 pups for an average litter which can differentiate to each female great white shark.
PART 2: Shark Story
PART 2: Shark Story
Rose's Ocean Log
Rose's Ocean Log
January 14, 2024
It's me, Rose, the great white shark. I'm amidst the overwintering season for juvenile sharks, and it's proving to be a formidable challenge. My days are filled with the responsibility of babysitting young sharks who often disregard my advice. On top of that, I'm constantly fending off advances from male sharks, leaving them with slightly bruised egos. But I'm not one to back down, and I'm determined to make the most of this time.
January 24,2024
At last, I've found a precious moment of solitude. I mustered the courage to venture near a beach where humans often gather, Long Bay in South Carolina. Most sharks avoid these shallow waters, but I'm drawn to the seabirds that descend to feast on fish and I eat them. It's winter for these humans, which means fewer at the beach. I decided to stay here for about a week, basking in the sun and relishing the peace away from other sharks, a luxury I rarely indulge in as an introvert.
February 2, 2024
I've now reached the South Carolina Ocean, across from Kiawah Island. It's not unusual for me to seek warmer waters during the winter, and the Carolina waters are the perfect place for a juvenile shark like me to find abundant food. The journey here was quite a trek, swimming against the currents and navigating unfamiliar territories. But it was all worth it when I finally arrived at this new destination.
February 6, 2024
Today, I am traveling down towards the shallow waters of the South Carolina Ocean across from Kiawah Island. I was just by the continental shelf a few days ago and wanted to go somewhere different. The shallow waters offer a different environment, with more sunlight and various fish species. I'm looking forward to the change of scenery, and I'm excited to see what this new area has to offer. I'm looking forward to the change of scenery, and I'm excited to see what this new area has to offer.
February 18, 2024
Today, I moved down the shore towards the Florida waters to visit North Palm Beach, Florida. Also, I got new teeth, which feel much better than my old ones, which were uncomfortable. This is a trait I have as a great white shark, where we continuously replace our teeth throughout our lives. It's a fascinating adaptation that is handy, especially when hunting for food.
February 22,2024
Guess who came by on my travels? Some remora fish dared to stick themselves up on my belly. They are annoying little pests who think they can just hop on for a free ride without asking first. As I was swimming, I followed the channels in the Florida Valley waters in the shallow water straits of Florida. I tried to get rid of these remora fish by rolling myself in the sands of the shallow water, which helped, so there's that. It was quite a sight, I must say! Seeing them get blinded by the sand and swimming away.
March 2, 2024
As I traveled through the channels, I am now on the west side of Florida State in the Gulf of Mexico waters. Another spot checked off my list of places to swim to. The Gulf of Mexico waters are warm and inviting, and I can feel the currents gently guiding me as I swim. Also, I found some lovely species of fish to snack on, so I have to find the right place to feed. It's a peaceful and serene environment, and I enjoy every moment.
March 11, 2024
I love Florida waters, as I traveled to the shallow waters of Apalachicola Bay to locate new prey such as redfish, trout, and groupers. I'm picky with my food since I mostly eat anything and am the ocean's top predator. I particularly enjoy the taste of redfish; their meat is tender and flavorful and a true delicacy in the ocean. I use a combination of smell, sense, and speed to catch them, waiting patiently for the right moment to strike.
March 18, 2024
Now, I am off the shore of Pensacola Bay in Florida. I like seeing the different Bay areas that this state has to offer. It always has different prey to eat, and I sometimes run into other shark species, such as hammerheads or bull sharks. These encounters can be tense, as we are all competing for the same resources, but we usually manage to coexist peacefully.
April 9, 2024
Today, I arrived at the Mississippi Valley of Louisiana waters and swam around. I like it so far, so I might stay here for a bit to rest from my travels as this area has plenty of space to go around.
April 14, 2024
So far, I'm enjoying the prey I encountered since there are Spanish mackerel and spotted trout, which I enjoy eating. Also, I ran into a few other juveniles who were great white. Pretty sure they are traveling here for the overwintering season.
April 15, 2024
As the sea temperatures changed, I embarked on a migratory journey, a pattern that repeats every year. This migration is not just a routine but a crucial part of my life, allowing me to adapt to the changing environment and ensuring my survival. It's a journey that underscores the resilience and adaptability of marine life. So far, I have visited new and familiar places I encountered in the past year, and I see so much has changed. The warmer waters have brought new species of fish, and I've had to adjust my hunting strategies to catch them.
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