
AsianScientist (Jan. 14, 2013) – New research by by marine scientists at The University of Western Australia’s Oceans Institute has shown that embryonic sharks can sense danger and avoid being detected by predators by staying still.
The study, published today in the open access journal PLoS ONE, looked at the reaction of sharks while still developing in their egg cases.
In response to electric fields that mimic a potential predator, the shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum) embryos respond by ceasing their respiratory gill movements.
“Despite being confined to a very small space within an egg case where they are vulnerable to predators, embryonic sharks are able to recognize dangerous stimuli and react with an innate avoidance response,” said lead author marine neuroecologist Ryan Kempster. “This knowledge may help us to develop effective shark repellents.”
Adult sharks are known to use highly sensitive receptors to detect electric fields emitted by potential prey. In the latest study, researchers found that embryos of some shark species employ similar means to detect potential predators and escape being eaten.
“This study advances our understanding of how embryonic sharks respond to electric fields of specific frequency and intensity and how their survival instincts to feed and defend themselves may take precedence over an electrical deterrent under some conditions,” the authors write.
The UWA researchers hope to use this knowledge to develop shark repellent devices that are based on electric fields.
The article can be found at: Kempster RM et al. (2013) Survival of the Stillest: Predator Avoidance in Shark Embryos.
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Source: UWA.
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