  
|  |
 |
Jaws: The Natural History of Sharks
Michael Bright
|
| Seminar Introduction |
|
 Primitive fishes resembling sharks were swimming in the oceans over 450 million years ago. Their descendants survived successive mass extinctions, including the catastrophe at the end of the Permian period (245 million years ago) when 96 per cent of all marine life was extinguished. They saw the dinosaurs come and go, and were still thriving when the mammals returned to the sea. Their long evolutionary history has refined sharks to the rank of near-perfect predators.
In this seminar Michael Bright, executive producer with the BBC Natural History Unit and author of the book Sharks, reviews the broad range of living sharks in order to explore their biology, behaviour and evolution. Traditionally, sharks have had a villainous reputation and the book and film phenomenon Jaws has done much to perpetuate this pariah status but, as Bright reveals, sharks are stunning rather than sinister creatures. He examines the serious threats, in the forms of overfishing and marine pollution, experienced by wild shark populations all over the world.
|
| Learning Objectives |
- Explain how sharks catch, eat and digest their food.
- Describe how a shark's battery of senses make it such a skilful and successful predator.
- Chart the evolution of sharks from their origin in the Silurian period, about 450 million years ago, to the present day.
- Understand why so many shark species are under threat.
|
| Sessions |
|
| Credits |
Copyright The Natural History Museum.
Michael's Bright's exploration of the latest findings from shark research all over the world, reveals sharks to be more than just mindless, killing machines. It shows how sharks have been the product of over 450 million years of evolution, during which time they have been honed to perfection as some of the sea's most sophisticated predators. Spectacular photographs and easy-to-follow diagrams help turn a creature which once scared us into one that now inspires.
Sharks
Bright, Michael
Paperback (2002)
|
| Technical Requirements |
To appreciate this seminar experience, it is critical that you have the appropriate software, plug-ins, and network connections. Please take the time to download the latest versions of the plug-ins mentioned below if you do not already have them.
Browser: Netscape versions 4.x up to 4.76, or Internet Explorer versions 4.x or later. Your browser must be JavaScript-enabled and must be set to accept cookies.
Network Connection: The recommended minimum connection is 56Kbps with a throughput of 34Kbps or more. A faster connection is encouraged to take better advantage of the media elements in the seminar.
|
|
|
