Known as the 'Mother of Sharks,' I'm a Latina marine biologist who has a lot of labels: science communicator, conservationist, author, educator, podcaster, television presenter. You might have seen me on Discovery Channel's Shark Week, National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, heard my TEDx talk or read my Scholastic books.
In a groundbreaking expedition led by Charles Darwin University’s PhD candidate, Julia Constance, alongside Dr. Peter Kyne and the Yugul Mangi Rangers, a. They are a group of elusive and poorly understood sharks that inhabit freshwater and brackish water environments in tropical regions of the world. These sharks are distributed across various regions in the Indo-Pacific, including northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Borneo and India.
Due to their limited distribution and specific habitat requirements, they are particularly vulnerable to human activities that alter their freshwater environments. Threats to the survival of these sharks include line fishing, gill netting and habitat degradation. As a result, several species within the genusare classified as endangered or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
However, Constance took on the challenge of unraveling the mysteries surrounding these sharks. And the collaboration with the Yugul Mangi Rangers, known for their intimate knowledge of the region, proved to be a crucial. Last year’s team expedition - comprised of Constance, Kyne, and the Yugul Mangi Rangers - discovered a breeding population of speartooth sharks, including the baby sharks known as ‘pups.
The project has not only unveiled a new population of speartooth sharks, but also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the role of local communities in scientific research and conservation. Drawing upon diverse expertise ranging from marine biology and ecology to Indigenous Knowledge and traditional land management practices made this discovery possible.
Constance and her team are committed to ensuring the survival of this rare and threatened species in the face of environmental challenges and plan to carry out future interdisciplinary expeditions.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ram Pressure Magic: Unveiling the Secrets of Star Formation in IC 3476Science, Space and Technology News 2024
Read more »
Rare Access To Hammerhead Shark Embryos Reveals Secrets Of Its Unique Head Development'Access to a hammerhead embryo is very rare, which is what makes this image so special.'
Read more »
AI-Powered Astrophysics: Unveiling the Cosmic Origins of Heavy ElementsScience, Space and Technology News 2024
Read more »
Unveiling the genetic tapestry of tree growth: A model for Populus euphratica developmentA comprehensive understanding of the genetic architecture of tree growth, a complex interplay of genetics between the plant's above- and below-ground parts, remains undefined in plant studies.
Read more »
Unveiling the Integrated Ecosystem: How Innovation, Design, and Security Converge to Redefine Modern Business StrategiesIn the dynamic landscape of modern business, the convergence of innovation, design, and security has emerged as a powerful force reshaping organizational strategies.
Read more »
Forest management research: Unveiling understory saplings with advanced airborne LiDAR technologyThe regeneration of forest saplings is pivotal for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem productivity, necessitating innovative management techniques for continuous forest coverage. Traditional 2-dimensional remote sensing struggles to accurately capture the complex, understory sapling dynamics.
Read more »