Could there be an increase in shark sightings in the Midwest? Sharks have traveled up the Mississippi River to the area in the past. Additionally, some shark scientists think that one species may come back more frequently in the future.
Credit: Photo by Jay Harvey, Aquarium of the Pacific
It s a tough time to be a shark. Pollution, industrialized fishing, and climate change threaten marine life, and the populations of many top ocean predators have declined in recent years. In addition to studying sharks in the wild, scientists working to save sharks rely on ones living in zoos and aquariums so that they can help build breeding programs and learn more about the conditions sharks need to thrive. One important way the scientists do that is by playing matchmakers to the sharks, pairing up individuals in ways that increase genetic diversity. In a new study in