Webcams Attached to Sharks to Better Understand Them
Marine biologists at the University of Hawaii and the University of Tokyo have attached webcams to the fins of sharks in the hope to study their habits. Thirty sharks of various types were fitted with the webcams that include a camera, sensors and VHF transmitters.
How did they attach the webcams? They put the sharks on their back and that put them in to sleep, the packages where strapped on and the sharks were released. The webcams are eventually dislodged by the sharks but they have tracking devices so biologists can recover them.
A couple things have been learned so far; Deep sea sharks swim slower than shallow water sharks, sharks swim in close formation with other species and they use more power motions in their travels rather than gliding motions. This last one is the biggest surprise because biologists suggested it would be the other way around.
The next step to better understanding sharks will be ingestable instrument packages to better study their diet.
More From B98.5
