Shark Research

"I can’t imagine a more useful introductory reference guide for new or prospective graduate students starting their career in marine biology than “Shark Research: Emerging Technologies and Applications for the Field And Laboratory”. This book is designed for people who have little to no familiarity with a research discipline but are about to start working in that discipline, a large and important audience that is often ignored by books and review papers geared towards people who are already experts. So many graduate students are told to learn a new research method by reading technical literature that assumes they already know this stuff, resulting in stress and frustration.

The book consists of 19 chapters, each focusing on a different research method commonly used by shark and ray researchers and each written by a team of experts from that discipline. Topics include tried-and-true research methods like ageing sharks, tracking sharks with telemetry tags, and population genetics, as well as new and emerging methods like drones and environmental DNA. There are even chapters on citizen science and social science!

The chapters start from first principles, assuming that readers know little to nothing about the subject of that chapter. Chapters summarize key background information you need to know before understanding a research method, explains how to use that research method, and walks you through case studies of how those research methods have been used. Many have photographs and diagrams showing what it looks like using those methods in the field or lab, almost all walk you through analysis of some sample data.

You won’t be an expert in a brand-new highly-technical subject after reading a chapter of a textbook, but that’s not the goal here. This book provides key background information and basic introductory explanations that graduate students will need to understand the primary literature in that discipline, filling an important gap in graduate student education. I wish there had been a book like this available when I started my Masters research!"

- David Shiffman, Southern Fried Science June 2019 http://www.southernfriedscience.com/book-review-shark-research-emerging-technologies-and-applications-for-the-field-and-laboratory/

"Besides bringing exciting and important new research findings, tools, and techniques to the table, Dr. Jeff Carrier’s most recent contribution Shark Research also provides a keen roadmap for the future of shark science."

- Toby S. Daly-Engel, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, USA

"The editors are to be congratulated for publishing a synoptic book that highlights the use of rapidly developing, novel, technological methods to study the ecology of sharks and rays. With this advanced tool kit now available under one cover, it will enable advanced studies that were heretofore impossible, but nonetheless important... This will break barriers that have hindered scientific progress toward understanding the ecology and conservation of chondrichthan fishes, and other organisms as well."

–Gregor M. Cailliet, Professor Emeritus, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, and Program Director Emeritus, Pacific Shark Research Center.

"If you are keen to see how new technologies and applications are shaping modern shark research, then this is a must have book. I will be recommending this book to anyone interested in marine science. It’s impressive coverage of topics from environmental DNA to social science applications provides the reader with a more holistic view of shark research."

- Will White, Senior Curator, CSIRO Australian National Fish Collection, Hobart, AUS

The future of shark research is here. Advanced sampling technologies and analytical techniques are already changing the landscape of many fields of shark research. From UAVs to AVEDs, AUVs to ROVs, BRUVs to MBESs, CT scans to MRIs, NIRS to photogrammetry, genomics to eDNA, to name only a few of these platforms and techniques, this book offers a compendium of state-of-the-art technologies and methods that are quickly becoming commonplace and that will continue to evolve and revolutionize how we study these animals. Through its nineteen chapters, the book describes how decreasing costs of electronics and increased miniaturization, quality, power, and types of sensory platforms are leading to accumulation of larger datasets, which in tandem with increasing collaborative initiatives, computing power, and advances in computer science and modelling techniques will result in a new understanding of crucial aspects of elasmobranch ecology and behavior. This book should be of interest to students, academics, and professionals working on this and other groups of marine animals to keep abreast of the latest applications of advanced sampling technologies and analytical techniques that are being used to study elasmobranchs.

- Enric Cortés, NOAA / NMFS / Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Panama City (FL) Laboratory, USA

"This volume contains 19 chapters covering the use of a multitude of new technological tools available to study elasmobranch fishes. Co-authored by more than 60 active shark researchers, Shark Research summarizes the state of the science in shark study. It belongs in the library of anyone with a serious interest in elasmobranch research."

- John A. (Jack) Musick, Prof. Emeritus, Va. Inst Marine Science, USA

"Innovative technologies are rapidly advancing the field of shark research. This must have book features leading innovators in the field who have contributed informative chapters summarizing the current state of research in a variety of fields. Whether you’re a student aspiring to study sharks, a professional, or just keenly interested in the current state of shark research, this is the book for you."

- David A. Ebert, Director, Pacific Shark Research Center, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, USA

"This timely volume provides an outstanding overview of how technological advances enable researchers to address formerly intractable questions. As we look back at this volume in a decade or two, the featured technology, that is currently avant-guarde, will be de rigueur, but these early adopters will be recognized for applying this technology to the development of entirely new methods of inquiry."

- Stephen M Kajiura, Professor of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, USA