Science

Scientists capture amazing ultrasound footage of unborn shark wriggling inside its mother's womb 


Scientists have captured amazing ultrasound footage of an unborn tiger shark wriggling around inside its mother’s womb during a conservation project.

The experts had set out to discover why so many Tiger Sharks swarm to the waters off of the so-called Tiger Beach in the Bahamas — a popular locale for dive tourists.

Using state-of-the-art technology, the eight-strong team managed to carefully catch and scan five of the massive tiger sharks out in the wild in December 2019.

Holding the shark close to their boat using straps, the researchers used a portable ultrasound to scan each animal, observing the results in real-time with a headset. 

The expedition will provide experts with valuable insights into the movements of tiger sharks in the region and will aid in their future conservation.

Using state-of-the-art technology, the eight-strong team managed to carefully catch and scan five of the massive tiger sharks out in the wild in December 2019

Using state-of-the-art technology, the eight-strong team managed to carefully catch and scan five of the massive tiger sharks out in the wild in December 2019

‘Performing the scans was absolutely incredible,’ said Arizona State University marine biologist James Sulikowski.

‘It’s mind blowing to know I am using technology that was once confined to a laboratory setting to see if a shark is pregnant in the field.’

‘To see baby sharks within the mother is like Christmas morning for me, that excitement never gets old.’

‘Its incredibility difficult to keep everything steady sometimes. We often get soaked.’

The team wondered weather the high number of tiger sharks seen around Tiger Beach at certain times of the year was a behaviour influenced by humans.

Sharks are purposely fed at the popular beach so that tourists can dive with them.

‘Tiger sharks at Tiger Beach are fed by scuba divers year-round to lure tiger sharks within close proximity of dive tourists,’ explained marine biologist Neil Hammerschlag of the University of Miami.

‘I wanted to know if the movements of tiger sharks were impacted by the dive tourism,’ he added.

‘This led me to wonder what the other possible reasons that tiger sharks were so abundant at Tiger Beach and why they were exhibiting high residency there during the cold months of the year.’

‘Given that most of the sharks there were female — with a 9:1 female-to-male ratio — and large, I suspected it could be related to reproduction.’

‘We have been assessing the reproductive biology of tiger sharks at Tiger Beach by carefully taking non-invasive blood samples and performing in-water ultrasounds.’

Holding the shark close to their boat using straps, the researchers used a portable ultrasound to scan each animal, observing the results in real-time with a headset, pictured

 Holding the shark close to their boat using straps, the researchers used a portable ultrasound to scan each animal, observing the results in real-time with a headset, pictured

The experts had set out to discover why so many Tiger Sharks swarm to the waters off of the so-called Tiger Beach in the Bahamas — a popular locale for dive tourists

The experts had set out to discover why so many Tiger Sharks swarm to the waters off of the so-called Tiger Beach in the Bahamas — a popular locale for dive tourists

The expedition will provide experts with valuable insights into the movements of tiger sharks in the region and will aid in their future conservation

The expedition will provide experts with valuable insights into the movements of tiger sharks in the region and will aid in their future conservation

'Performing the scans was absolutely incredible,' said Arizona State University marine biologist James Sulikowski. 'It's mind blowing to know I am using technology that was once confined to a laboratory setting to see if a shark is pregnant in the field'

‘Performing the scans was absolutely incredible,’ said Arizona State University marine biologist James Sulikowski. ‘It’s mind blowing to know I am using technology that was once confined to a laboratory setting to see if a shark is pregnant in the field’

‘This work has revealed that a large proportion of the female tiger sharks at Tiger Beach are in fact pregnant,’ Dr Hammerschlag added.

‘Knowing the reproductive strategies and mating behaviours of animals is crucial for management and conservation.’

“Historically, the reproductive biology of sharks has been studied by sacrificing the animals,’ he notes.

‘However, in this study, we have been performing ultrasounds on tiger sharks as well as taking blood samples for hormone analysis to determine reproductive status of these large predators.’

‘Coupling these techniques has allowed us to examine the reproductive state, cycle and length of gestation of sharks during our ongoing research without having to kill them.’

‘After their “pregnancy check-ups,” we have been tagging the pregnant tiger sharks with satellite transmitters to track their movements and evaluate behavioural patterns to reveal possible gestation and pupping grounds.’

'This work has revealed that a large proportion of the female tiger sharks at Tiger Beach are in fact pregnant,' Dr Hammerschlag said. 'Knowing the reproductive strategies and mating behaviours of animals is crucial for management and conservation'

 ‘This work has revealed that a large proportion of the female tiger sharks at Tiger Beach are in fact pregnant,’ Dr Hammerschlag said. ‘Knowing the reproductive strategies and mating behaviours of animals is crucial for management and conservation’

The team wondered weather the high number of tiger sharks seen around Tiger Beach at certain times of the year was a behaviour influenced by humans. Sharks are purposely fed at the popular beach so that tourists can dive with them

The team wondered weather the high number of tiger sharks seen around Tiger Beach at certain times of the year was a behaviour influenced by humans. Sharks are purposely fed at the popular beach so that tourists can dive with them 

'After their "pregnancy check-ups," we have been tagging the pregnant tiger sharks with satellite transmitters to track their movements and evaluate behavioural patterns to reveal possible gestation and pupping grounds,' said Dr Hammerschlag

‘After their “pregnancy check-ups,” we have been tagging the pregnant tiger sharks with satellite transmitters to track their movements and evaluate behavioural patterns to reveal possible gestation and pupping grounds,’ said Dr Hammerschlag

WHAT IS AN ULTRASOUND SCAN?

Ultrasound imaging is based on the same principles involved in sonar. When a sound wave strikes an object, it bounces back.

By measuring these waves and their behaviour it is possible to determine how far away the object is as well as the object’s size, shape and consistency – whether the object is solid or filled with fluid.

Ultrasound imaging, also known as sonography, uses a small probe and some gel placed on the skin of the patient.

The probe, a transducer, transmits sounds through the gel and into the body.

When the transducer collects the sounds that bounce back, a computer then uses those sound waves to create an image. 

Ultrasound imaging is based on the same principles involved in sonar. Ultrasound shave a range of uses, but are most widely used for creating images of a foetus in the womb during pregnancy

Ultrasound imaging is based on the same principles involved in sonar. Ultrasound shave a range of uses, but are most widely used for creating images of a foetus in the womb during pregnancy

Ultrasound imaging does not use high-energy or ionising waves of light, so there is no damage to the patient. 

Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels. 

Conventional ultrasound images are flat and two dimensional, but recent advancements have allowed hundreds to be taken simultaneously to create a 3D image of the area.

Ultrasounds have a range of uses, but are most widely used for creating images of a foetus in the womb during pregnancy. 

They are also used to assess pain, inflammation and swelling in afflicted areas.

As well as assessing symptoms, they can be used as a diagnosis tool for determining the cause of illness in most organs. 



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