K-1 Students Learn about Sharks!

   Dr. John Dindo from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab visited the K-1 Center in February and worked with all classes.  His presentation shared his research on sharks and how local sharks are caught, tagged, and tracked.  Students learned about different types of sharks and how scientists measure their length, weight, and note if they are male or female.  He explained how a few sharks have transmitters attached to their dorsal fins so their range in the Gulf of Mexico can be tracked.  This information is sent to a satellite and then back to his computer.  This tracking even tells Dr. Dindo when a shark moves close to the surface of the water!  Students investigated preserved shark specimens of a hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, sharpnose, nurse, and a black tip.  They were able to locate the heart, lungs, and liver on a dissected specimen and feel the sharp teeth of a large sand tiger shark.