The elasmobranch fishes include the living sharks, skates and rays that are important members of nearly all marine ecosystems. Their large size, secretive behavior, and wide-ranging habits make them difficult to observe in the field or to maintain in captivity. Consequently, little is known about their natural behavior and how it is mediated by their sensory systems. This volume is dedicated to the scientific contributions and memory of Donald Nelson, a pioneer in the study of shark behavior, sensory biology, and remote instrumentation. The two opening papers review Don Nelson's unique scientific accomplishments and provide insight into his strong bias towards study of animals in the field. These are followed by 14 scientific papers on elasmobranch behavior, sensory biology, and current monitoring technologies. The papers on elasmobranch sensory biology and behavior address questions on hearing, the lateral line, electroreception, the brain, orientation behavior, chemical irritants, feeding, and reproduction. The latter section of the volume presents papers on conventional tagging techniques, ultrasonic telemetry, physiological telemetry, remote monitoring techniques, archival tagging and satellite tagging. The intent of this volume is to familiarize both new and established scientists with the sensory biology and behavior of sharks and rays, and to encourage further behavioral research on these animals in their natural environment.

Inhalt

Prelude to the anthology in memory of Ronald Richard Nelson; T.C. Tricas, S.H. Gruber. Part 1: Biography and eulogy. Shark meets man: the research and academic life of Donald Richard Nelson (1937-1997); T.C. Tricas. Donald Richard Nelson: the most unforgettable character I ever met; S.H. Gruber. Part 2: Sensory biology and behavior. The acoustical biology of elasmobranchs; A.A. Myrberg, Jr. Morphology of the mechanosensory lateral line system in elasmobranch fishes: ecological and behavioral considerations; K.P. Maruska. The neuroecology of the elasmobranch electrosensory world: why peripheral morphology shapes behavior; T.C. Tricas. Comparative neurobiology of the elasmobranch cerebellum: theme and variations on a sensorimotor interface; J.G. New. Orientation and navigation in elasmobranchs: which way forward?; J.C. Montgomery, M.M. Walker. Surfactants as chemical shark repellents: past, present, and future; J.A. Sisneros, D.R. Nelson. Advances in the study of feeding behaviors, mechanisms, and mechanics of sharks; P.J. Motta, C.D. Wilga. A review of elasmobranch reproductive behavior with a case study on the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum; H.L. Pratt, Jr. & J.C. Carrier. Part 3: New techniques - tagging, telemetry and movements. Shark tagging: a review of conventional methods and studies; N.E. Kohler, P.A. Turner. Review of elasmobranch behavioral studies using ultrasonic telemetry with special reference to the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris, around Bimini Islands, Bahamas; L.F. Sundström, et al. Thermal and bioenergetics of elasmobranchs: bridging the gap; C.G. Lowe, K.J. Goldman. Ultrasonic telemetry, tracking and automated monitoring technology for sharks; F.A. Voegeli,et al. Archival tagging of school shark, Galeorhinus galeus, in Australia: initial results; G.J. West, J.D. Stevens. Telemetry and satellite tracking of whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico, and the north Pacific Ocean; S.A. Eckert, B.S. Stewart. Species and subject index.