Great for grades K-12!

NEW! Only Available October '07 - March '08

Before there were dinosaurs and humans, there were sharks swimming in the oceans on Earth. Over their 400 million year existence in the ocean, sharks have developed a reputation as a very dangerous fish. Although being attacked by a shark is possible, the actual risk is much lower than most people might think. Bees, wasps, snakes, and even coconuts are responsible for more deaths each year than sharks. Sharks are therefore on the bottom of the list of potential dangers in aquatic environments. Since sharks have given off the wrong impression to most people, this lab is designed to show kids and teachers that sharks should not be feared but instead recognized as apex predators of the ocean world.

The term top predator generally refers to the position a species occupies in the food chain — or better — food web of an ecosystem. Sharks will feed on a variety of things. With most sharks, their primary food source is fish. However, some sharks eat crabs, other inverts, dead animals or even trash. Also a number of sharks (some of the largest species) are not at all interested in hunting for large meals of meat but almost exclusively feed on plankton and macro-algae.

Even though some sharks feed on plankton, every shark possesses some form of teeth.  Sharks may have up to 3,000 teeth at one time. These teeth are modified placoid scales that have the same structure as a tooth, having an outer layer of enamel, dentine and a central pulp cavity. The teeth of sharks are not attached to the jaw but instead embedded in the flesh and in many species constantly replaced throughout their life. New teeth grow continuously in a groove inside the mouth and move forward on a “conveyor belt”. In some sharks, rows of teeth are replaced every 8-10 days, while in other species they could last several months.

Another misconception that people have about sharks is their size. When most people think of a shark, they picture a large great white in their head which can be around 20 feet in length. Ironically, over 50% of the shark species in the world are 3 feet in length or smaller and 80% of sharks are 6 feet and under in total length. Therefore the perception that sharks are always enormous ocean predators is not the truth in most cases. Instead, humans should look upon sharks as amazing creatures with unique adaptations for living in the ocean.

While working as a team, students will observe and identify different physical adaptations (tooth shape, tail shape, scent, and electroreception) that sharks use to help them successfully survive in their aquatic environment. They will also gain an understanding of what type of marine habitats sharks live in and why sharks are called the top predators in these habitats.

Do you know???

What makes sharks top predators?

What are some of the myths that people perceive about sharks?

How are some sharks adapted to their specific habitat?

What special structures and/or adaptations enable living things to successfully compete in different environments?

Why is tail shape important for a shark?

How does the shape of a shark's tooth aid in feeding?

What extra sense do sharks have to help zone in on prey?

For other educational & fun activities you can do in the classroom or at home, click on the shark!

This activity meets the following Florida Sunshine State Standards:

Click to register on-line.

For more information or to register please call (954) 924-4309, fax (954) 924-4333, e-mail or mail to:

IGFA

Attn: Education Department

300 Gulf Stream Way

Dania Beach, FL 33004

Back to Kid's Home Page