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  Seaweek 2005 - Save Our Sharks    
 

Themes

Theme 1 - Sharks are an important part of marine ecosystems

Our current understanding suggests that the role of higher-level predators is important in maintaining the marine ecosystem. All sharks are predators although some shark species are not at the top of the food chain. Within the Australian species the whale shark and the megamouth shark sit at one extreme with a large zooplankton component to their diet.

At the other extreme sit the great white shark and the broadnose sevengill shark that feed on a range of invertebrates and vertebrates, and include a high proportion of mammals in their diet.

Ideas for schools
Develop a food chain for different species of sharks. Include the other species that make up the marine ecosystem and draw arrows that show how the energy flows from one species to another. Also, see the relevant information sheet on the MESA Seaweek 2005 web site compiled by Mike Bennett and Simon Pierce, with links to the schools-activities booklet.

 

Image copyright Ken Hoppen Photography
Great white shark
Image © Ken Hoppen Photography

Image copyright Ken Hoppen Photography
Whale-shark
Image © Ken Hoppen Photography

   
Image copyright Ken Hoppen Photography
Coffin-Ray
Image © Ken Hoppen Photography
Image copyright Ken Hoppen Photography
Frilled-shark
Image © Ken Hoppen Photography
   
Image copyright Ken Hoppen Photography
White tipped reef shark
Image © Ken Hoppen Photography
Image copyright Ken Hoppen Photography
Spotted stingree
Image © Ken Hoppen Photography
 
Some of the diversity in sharks and rays
 

Theme 2 - There is a wide variety of different types of sharks, and their relatives the rays and chimaeras, in Australia

The key feature that distinguishes Chondrichthyans - sharks, rays and chimaera - from the bony fishes and other higher vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) is that their skeletons
are made of cartilage.

There are nearly 400 living species of shark, nearly 600 living species of ray, and 33 living species of chimaera worldwide. Approximately 300 species of Chondrichthyans have been discovered in Australian waters. More species are likely to be discovered as the deep ocean waters are better explored.

Ideas for schools
Collect pictures of different sharks, rays and chimaeras from the Internet. These could be used to make up a collage. Students could research a different species and present a pictorial reportof their research on it. Also, see the relevant information sheets on the MESA Seaweek 2005 web site compiled by Terence Walker, with links to the schools-activities booklet.

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Save Our Sharks March 6 to 13, 2005