Researchers at UC Santa Barbara are using drones to track the movements and behaviors of great white sharks off the California coast, shedding light on this elusive predator’s habits and helping to improve beachgoer safety.
Predicting the Unpredictable
Understanding the movement and behavior of great white sharks has always been a difficult task for scientists, since these intelligent but incredibly complex animals are subject to multiple factors that may condition their actions at every stage of life, from ocean conditions to possible effects from climate change.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara take on this task with a somewhat unorthodox method: aerial drones. Using drones to follow pre-programmed routes just outside the surf line, the team has counted the number of white sharks near shore and collected data on oceanographic parameters like water temperature, wave height, and plankton abundance.
The data is then matched to mathematical models, identifying the important factors that determine when and where these sharks will turn up. Key indicators of the presence of juvenile sharks, the researchers found, include the ocean’s temperature and time of year: Ocean water that was warmer and during summer months were high probability factors for sighting more young sharks.
Drones Provide a New Perspective
Drones have changed the game in this research by allowing the team to cover a portion of ocean during every seasonal snapshot which is far superior to traditional methods such as divers or sonar. New technology has endowed drones with the ability to fly above camp without being caught by sharks, allowing researchers to accurately count their inspiration.
In any case, the drone surveys can only assess the ocean surface and are not capable of delving into the deeper depths. The researchers have been working with scientists at the Shark Lab housed within CSULB for years and collecting information recorded from studies of white sharks in the region using tagging, as well as acoustic data to help fill in those gaps.
Combining the visual data from the drones with the Shark Lab’s acoustic information gives more complete picture of white shark population patterns over time. AND it seems an integrative approach such as this may be the key in getting better forecasts predicting when and where sharks are most likely to be.
Conclusion
OUR CHANGING SEAS The work of the UC Santa Barbara team This episode was written by Warren Cornwall Credits HOST Warren Cornwall Reporters Amita Parashar | Chris Palmer Producers Laurie Grilo Read more (200 words) The researchers are unlocking the secrets of these cryptic predators with drones and through partnerships with other scientists, and that information can enhance beachgoer safety, as well as a deeper respect for the place sharks have in the fragile coastal ecosystem.
