Shark research by the Pelagios Team
By Karina Busto
The third week of February was full of activities for the Pelagios team! We would like to share with you some of the main outcomes of the scientific research carried out by our staff and students. We are so happy to continue working to extend our knowledge about sharks and mantas, and to contribute with baseline information for their management and conservation!
Expeditions
Dr. Mauricio Hoyos and student Madalena Cabral came back from a successful expedition to the Revillagigedo National Park onboard the Sharkwater, tagging several species of sharks and giant mantas.
Ms.C Abel Trejo, our shark tagging coordinator, embarked on Quino el Guardian to lead a citizen science expedition to the Revillagigedo National Park.
Dr. James Ketchum and Miguel Grau, left to the Revillagigedo National Park on a scientific expedition onboard the Sharkwater to tag sharks and deploy BRUVS around the islands.
Both of our expeditions on the Sharkwater were carried out in collaboration with Fins Attached Marine Research and Conservation. All of our work involving shark and manta tagging in National Protected Areas are performed under permits by CONAPESCA and CONANP.
Field trips
We had a successful field trip to Cabo Pulmo National Park to continue with our shark monitoring program. Miguel Grau and Alex Aldana went scuba diving, while Katy Ayres, Darren Whitehead and Joel Gayford carried out drone surveys. It was a great day!
Our internship program is up and running, with our regular BRUVS deployment, whale shark monitoring trips, and expeditions to other study areas.
PhD student Marta Díaz Palacios deployed an acoustic receiver in the Bay of Loreto, as part of a collaboration project between Pelagios, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and CICIMAR.
Shark Education
Carmen Pasos held a videoconference about sharks and marine life with elementary school children of Colegio La Paz. After they attended her talk, some of them were inspired to draw sharks and share them with us! Thanks a lot!
PhD and Masters Students
Pedro Rodríguez Arana presented his Pre-doctoral exam, officially becoming a PhD candidate, with a study about genetics and hammerhead sharks in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
Four of our students defended their master’s thesis about different species and areas of research:
Paul Preciado: Movements and residency of giant mantas, Mobula birostris, in the Mexican Pacific (including La Reina, Bahía Banderas and Revillagigedo Archipelago). CICIMAR-Pelagios-Manta Pacífico.
Ana Posada: Movements, residency and behavior patterns of lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostis) in Cabo Pulmo National Park. CICIMAR-Pelagios.
Lina Quintero: Using stereo BRUVS to characterize the fish community in Cantagallo, Ecuador. CICIMAR-Migramar-Pelagios.
Carolina Hernández: Glycogen and oxidative stress in Mobula birostris in relation to tourism in the Revillagigedo Archipelago. CICIMAR-Pelagios.
Follow us on social media for the latest news of our shark research activities!
Blog publication date: February 24, 2021