Jillian taught us a variety of different ways that she studies sharks and the types of methods she uses for collecting her data. She takes a very small skin sample from the shark's dorsal fin. From that she can study all sorts of information about eating habits and where the shark swims. She also taught us about how a sharks skin is not made of scales like other fish. Rather the skin is called dermal denticles. These are like curved or grooved teeth that make the skin very tough with a texture like sandpaper.
Jillian also told us about how to become shark activists. We learned that over 100 million sharks are killed each year all over the world!! Through the Sharks For Kids website there are many opportunities to be persuasive and write about ways to save sharks. We could also hang up posters in our school and teach people about the types of sharks in Maine.
Jillian decided to become a marine biologist when she was 8 years old and was scuba diving in Kennebunkport! She loved swimming in the tide pools and exploring the ocean at a young age. Hmm, sounds like many of our little scientists here as well!
Thank you all so much for your contributions to this great cause! It is never too late to donate: http://sharks4kids.com/