Megan HeffronComputer Literacy Educ 462

November 29, 2004Science: Grade 3

MMH213mmh213@psu.edu

Dr. Coffman

CONTENTS

•Sharks Have a Bad Reputation

•Shark Attacks•Most Dangerous to Humans•Mistaken Identity•Predators- HUMANS•Myths About Shark

Sharks Have a Bad Reputation

Movies and media play a huge role in this stereotype

The 1975 film “Jaws” about a killer shark, scared audiences out of the water, and fueled a worldwide hatred and fear of sharks.

jawsmovie.com

Media Role

“Summer of the Shark”Last year shark attacks were all over our TV screensLess attacks that year than the previous but on TV moreLittle Boy gets arm ripped off by shark and heroic uncle goes in after the sharkThis is one reason the media plays up on attacks

Bethany Hamilton a 13 year old girl attacked while surfing

• Media covered this story and it was seen all over the world- “Vicious shark rips girls arm off!”

When is the most likely time to encounter a shark- FEEDING

TIME

Dawn till 10am and

2-4 pm

Shark Attacks

Many People think this is the result when a shark is nearby

This is very wrong, in actuality the chances of being bitten by a shark are slim to none. In the United States, the

chances of drowning are 1000 times greater than being attacked by a shark.

World Shark Attacks

YEAR TOTAL ATTACKS

FATAL NON-FATAL

1990 37 2 35

1991 38 3 35

1992 55 7 48

1993 55 14 41

1994 55 14 41

1995 62 9 53

1996 74 11 63

1997 43 3 40

1998 60 12 48

1999 54 6 48

Sharks are in the water with humans all the time and yet you have a better chance of

being struck by lightning than bitten by a shark!!!!

There are over 344 species of sharks and only 27 have been accused of attacking humans

Those three sharks include:

Great White (Carcharodon Carcharias)

Bull Shark (Carcharhinus Leucas)

Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo Cuviev)

Mistaken IdentityOne of the main reasons that scientists believe that sharks attack surfers is because a person on a surfboard resembles the sharks normal prey, a seal.

Another reason that may be a cause of shark attacks on man is a confusion state for the shark.

Shark feeding is becoming more and more popular as a tourist attraction and sharks are relating humans to food.

Humans are sharks #1 Predator

Humans hunt and kill sharks for several reasonsTo eatTo eat

CosmeticsCosmetics

PillsPills

PrizesPrizes

Test their masculinityTest their masculinity

Net ProtectionNet Protection

People eat all different kinds of sharks

One of the most common types of food is shark fin soup

CosmeticsThe gallbladder and part of the

shark’s liver have been shown to improve acne and other skin

complaints.

PillsHealth pills made from shark’s liver claim to reduce the incident of heart disease and cancer, and to increase longevity.

For many years, shark livers were used as a source of vitamin A and E until a synthetic alternative was discovered in the 1950’s

Prizes• Jewelry - Shark Teeth

• Souvenirs

- Jaws from a shark

Testing their strength

Man has been hunting sharks for years to prove that they are the more dominant species. It is a way for men to test their masculinity and in turn, thousands upon thousands of sharks die each year.

NettingIn order to protect bathers, fishing nets are laid across the ocean so that sharks can not swim to close to shore

• The only problem is that sharks get caught in the nets and die

Many people don’t care because it is only a shark

that is dead-

But What If…

It was a dolphin, would you feel differently????

Myths About Sharks• Sharks have peanut size brains and are

incapable of learningFalse, Shark’s relatively large and complex brains are comparable in size to those of supposedly more advanced animals like

mammals and birds.• Sharks are useless fish

No way, sharks are a critical part of marine ecosystems, a source for knowledge to

help medical conditions, and the basis of a valuable fishery.

Some More Myths• Sharks prefer human blood

False, most sharks do not appear to be especially interested in the blood of

mammals as opposed to fish blood• A shark will attack every time in contact with

a person

False, people are in the water with sharks all the time and do not get

attacked

Sharks are one of the most amazing animals

Don’t fear them, rather admire them for their beauty and

grace

Bibliography• Bethany Hamilton. www.theage/com/au/.../htm• Bull Shark. www.floridamarine.org/gallery/view_categroy.com• Cosmetic Container. www.obeck.com/pages/cosmetic%20&%20personal%2• Dolphin in Net. news.bbc.co.uk/…/newsid_2848000/2848623.stm• Ellis, Richard. Great White Shark. Stanford University Press. California, 1991.• Freedman, Russell. Sharks. Holiday House, New York, 1985• Great White in Net. www.calacademy.org/aquarium/sharks.html• Great White Title. thegreenman.net.au/mt/archives/2003_08.html• Jaws Movie. www.webwombat.com.au/entertainment/duds/jaws.htm• Jaws Souvenir. www.einsteins-emporium.com/.../1ss34.htm• Jaws Theme Sound Clip. http://www.jawsmoviesounds.html• Man Feeding Shark. www.stockphotography.co.uk/store/app/zoom.asp• Mistaken Identity. www.calacademy.org/research/aquatics/sharks.html• Need a Bigger Boat Sound Clip. http://www.jawsmoviesounds.htm• Pope, Joyce. 1001 Facts About Sharks.Dk Publishing, INC. New York, 2002• Shark Attacks. www.thesharkdoctor.com/shark-attacks1.jpg• Shark Attacking Helicopter. Bissels.com/cindy/funstuff/funphotos/shark.htm• Shark Caught by Fishermen. www.ifyoudive.com/.../?objectID=4573515• Shark in Water with Surfer. www.auseyber.net/shark/• Shark Jumping out of Water. www.seas-expo.com/.../ great%20white%20shark.htm • Shark Gallery. http://gerber.iwarp.com/Attack/statistics.htm• Shark Media. Emorysmemeories.tripod.com/websale/all_other_m• Shark Teeth. www.jawsandteeth.com/shark_teeth_necklaces.htm• Taylor, Ron and Valerie. Sharks Silent Hunters of the Deep. Readers Digest. New York, 1995• Tiger Shark. www.bigmarinefish.com/photos_shark_pg1.html.