If you happen to’ve seen even a single shark documentary, then you definately’ve in all probability heard that almost all of assaults on people are doubtless on account of sharks mistaking folks for seals. Scientists now say they’ve confirmed that idea, utilizing pc fashions.
A big share of shark assaults contain nice white sharks attacking surfers as they sit on or paddle their boards. Previously, research have proven that when considered from beneath, surfers on boards have a silhouette just like that of pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) – these animals are among the many nice white’s pure prey.
Led by post-doctoral researcher Dr. Laura Ryan, scientists at Australia’s Macquarie College lately got down to discover this idea additional.
Doing so concerned utilizing each stationary and travelling upward-facing cameras to shoot underwater video of topics corresponding to rectangular floats; pinnipeds swimming; people swimming completely different strokes; and people paddling on surfboards of varied sizes. The footage was shot in a big tank at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. For the travelling pictures, a GoPro was mounted on an underwater scooter that was shifting at “a typical cruising pace for predatory sharks.”
The footage was subsequently analyzed using pc fashions primarily based on present shark neuroscience knowledge, which simulated the way by which a juvenile nice white shark would course of the shapes and actions of varied objects. Juveniles are concerned in a disproportionately giant variety of assaults, doubtless on account of the truth that their imaginative and prescient is poorer than that of their grownup counterparts.
The evaluation reportedly confirmed that younger nice whites are certainly susceptible to mistaking people on surfboards for pinnipeds, because the sharks doubtless understand the 2 as wanting very comparable – that is significantly true of individuals on quick boards. Altering the colours of the boards in all probability would not assist, as it’s believed that sharks are largely colour blind. The scientists are wanting into different preventative measures, nonetheless, corresponding to including high-intensity LEDs to the underside of boards, to interrupt up their silhouette.
“Understanding why shark bites happen may also help us discover methods to forestall them, whereas holding each people and sharks safer,” says Ryan.
The analysis is described in a paper that was lately revealed within the Journal of The Royal Society Interface.
Supply: Macquarie College
