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Research Agenda
Here are the nine most important sources I incorporated in my Literature Review and Advocacy Project. Each source is cited and has an individual annotated bibliography, summarizing the key elements the source covers.
Annotated Bibliographies- Literature Review
1
Finger, J. S., et al. “Are Some Sharks More Social than Others? Short- and Long-Term Consistencies in the Social Behavior of Juvenile Lemon Sharks - Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.” SpringerLink, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 29 Dec. 2017, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-017-2431-0.
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Finger is a biologist affiliated with Bimini Biological Field Station, who conducted a study called “Are Some Sharks More Social than Others? Short- and Long-Term Consistencies in the Social Behavior of Juvenile Lemon Sharks - Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology”, published by Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology in 2017. This research study looks at the behavior of juvenile lemon sharks and their individual consistencies in social behavior. In order to study the behavior, Finger observed the sharks with video processing which was later analyzed using an algorithm. The sharks were maintained in a controlled environment with different test periods, group composition changes, and short and long-term tests. The results of the experiment displayed the repeatability in the social behavior of sharks and how there are consistencies in their behavior for both short-term periods and long-term periods. These results help researchers understand the intricacies of the social behavior of sharks. The author of this source has other publications about sharks, and specifically about juvenile lemon sharks. Juvenile lemon sharks are a popular test subject when it comes to studying the behavior of sharks and they have been used in other research studies. All of these studies help conclude that the social behavior of sharks can vary even when they are under the same conditions.
2
Jacoby, David M. P., et al. “Shark Personalities? Repeatability of Social Network Traits in a Widely Distributed Predatory Fish - Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.” SpringerLink, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2 Oct. 2014, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-014-1805-9.
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Zoologist and lecturer of Lancaster University, David M.P. Jacoby, conducted a study titled “Shark personalities? Repeatability of social network traits in a widely distributed predatory fish” published in 2014 by Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. The purpose of this study was to better understand behaviors and positions of individual sharks in their social networks. The study sought out to collect results by trying to replicate the habitats of young sharks and measuring the group size preferences and social network position of each individual shark. The study came to the conclusion that individual sharks tended to maintain their social network traits among the different environments they were subjected to. While this study does provide evidence in favor of individual sharks having distinct personality traits, it does not conclusively prove one way or the other. The author of this source, Jacoby, is a well known scholar with over a hundred citations on his publications. He was able to come to the same conclusion as other researchers about the diverse behaviors in individual sharks.
3
Wilson, Alexander D.M., et al. “Integrating Network Analysis, Sensor Tags, and Observation to Understand Shark Ecology and Behavior.” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 25 July 2015, https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/26/6/1577/205484.
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“Integrating Network Analysis”, published by Behavioral Ecology in 2015, is a study conducted by behavior ecologist lecturer Alexander D.M. Wilson of the University of Plymouth. This study observes the social behavior and ecology of sharks to better understand how they act with one another and within their social networks. Wilson collected 10 juvenile lemon sharks and acclimated them to a controlled environment. He then tagged each shark with their own tri-axial accelerometer loggers, observed the sharks periodically daily, and then analyzed the data obtained. The results of this behavior concluded that sharks have diverse behavioral patterns and that they associated with non-similar sharks. The study also helped display a difference in the behavior of sharks based on their social levels; the more social the shark, the more variety in their nightly swimming patterns. This helps scientists recognize how sharks integrate with one another and how their social behaviors play a role in that integration. Wilson is well known in the field of behavioral ecology, with many frequently cited publications. This specific source connects with other research studies on the social behavior of sharks because of his use of juvenile lemon sharks and similar conclusions on how individual sharks have differing behavioral patterns.
Annotated Bibliographies- Shark Problems
1
Green, Crystal. “Pace International Law Review - DigitalCommons@Pace.” Digitalcommons, Pace International Law Review, 14 July 2015, https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1320&context=pilr.
Published by Pace Law and written by Crystal Green, “AN INTERNATIONAL SOS (SAVE OUR SHARKS): HOW THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK SHOULD BE USED TO SAVE OUR SHARKS” is an article which describes shark finning and international law regarding it. The article provides various facts that would be useful in an advocacy project regarding sharks and their drop in populations. For instance, this article states that one in fifteen sharks is killed by a fisherman. Green also writes about various international laws passed to increase the protection of sharks. Possibly the most unique trait of this source is that it describes shark finning from a legal perspective. I think this source will be especially useful in the advocacy project because it will give specific information on how countries are protecting sharks and what more they can do.
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2
Carwardine, Mark. “What Is Shark Finning and Why Is It a Problem?” BBC Wildlife Magazine: Nature, Conservation and Wildlife Watching - Discover Wildlife, Discover Wildlife, 11 May 2022, https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/fish/what-is-shark-finning-and-why-is-it-a-problem/.
Written by zoologist Mark Carwardine, “What is shark finning and why is it a problem?” is an article published by Discover Wildlife. The article gives information about how many sharks have been killed due to shark finning and why it is a problem. In addition to providing a brief history on shark finning, it includes some statistics that could be employed to persuade an audience. This article will be a convenient source for my advocacy project because it provides many facts regarding shark finning that will be important to include. Some of these important facts include past efforts to protect these sharks and where these shark fins are going.
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3
Jaiteh, Vanessa F., et al. “The End of Shark Finning? Impacts of Declining Catches and Fin Demand on Coastal Community Livelihoods.” Marine Policy, Pergamon, 24 Mar. 2017, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X17301720?casa_token=oIaBi1SIX7oAAAAA%3AieGMk5ixNoSCHIXnqCAEYv9Vhdm54kKiBAZ9PaBJhh7kPxff3I37gBIOaVeRHuNJD6M43W-65jfj.
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Conducted by marine scientist Vanessa Jaiteh, Marine Policy published a research study titled “The end of shark finning? Impacts of declining catches and fin demand on coastal community livelihoods”. The study aims to study the effects of shark finning on sharks and fishing communities. Over the course of several months the researchers collected biological and fishery data from several coastal communities. The results of the study provide information on the relatively recent history of shark finning and the decline in shark catch rates. While this article does not provide much information on how shark finning directly affects shark populations, it does provide a large amount of context and historical information on shark finning. I believe that this source will be very useful in my advocacy project because it gives helpful information on how and why shark finning occurs.
Annotated Bibliographies- Shark Solutions
1
“Ending the Shark Fin Trade.” Oceana USA, 8 Aug. 2021, https://usa.oceana.org/our-campaigns/ending-the-shark-fin-trade/.
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This source is from Oceana, a non-profit conservation organization focused on ocean restoration. Oceana's "Ending the Shark Fin Trade" page focuses on solutions to one of the biggest threats to the shark population: shark finning. This page exemplifies some of the biggest opposers to shark finning and the shark fin trade and some of the actions they have already encouraged. In addition to displaying the opposers of shark finning and the first steps towards ending this problem, Oceana explicitly states the higher level solutions that need to be enacted immediately to help protect this keystone species. These solutions include the Congressional passing of the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act and a national prohibition to the buying and selling of shark fins. I believe that this page will be a useful source in my advocacy project because it provides formal solutions to shark finning and has helpful links that inform readers about shark finning and the detrimental consequences.
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2
Lombardo, Crystal. “5 Solutions to Shark Finning.” Vision Launch Media, 30 May 2017, https://visionlaunch.com/5-solutions-shark-finning/.
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Written by Crystal Lombardo, "5 Solutions to Shark Finning" is an article focused on educating the reader on solutions to shark finning that any individual can do on their own. Some of the solutions that the website recommends people to do in order to fight shark finning are to support organizations working to stop shark finning or boycotting companies involved with shark finning. A few more solutions that any individual could take are writing to a representative or spreading awareness to their friends of the problem. This is an excellent source that highlights the actions that an individual can take on their own in order to make a change on a greater level. This is an effective source for the solutions part of my advocacy project because it suggests grassroots solutions that the reader will be able to partake in. These are solutions that can immediately encourage change in the conservation of the shark species.
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3
“Ending Shark Finning.” MSC International - English, https://www.msc.org/what-we-are-doing/ending-shark-finning.
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From the Marine Stewardship Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable fishing, "Ending Shark Finning" is a web page discussing how the MSC is committed to ending shark finning. The article begins with plenty of statistics regarding the impacts of shark finning which could persuade the reader to take action. The article goes on to describe how the MSC is taking action on shark finning through managing various fisheries around the world and ensuring they maintain certain levels of standards. These standards mostly consist of policies which prohibit either the fishing of sharks or the removal of sharks' fins. The article continues by describing the various ways in which the MSC is improving their standards for the further protection of sharks. This source will be important for my advocacy project because it describes the actions that have been taken and the actions that will be taken by a non-profit organization in order to protect sharks.