Protecting
Future
Generations
of
Sharks


 

OUR Mission

To protect future generations of sharks as they face threats in an ever changing climate.


The Physioshark project, led by Dr. Jodie Rummer from James Cook University in Australia, investigates how climate change impacts the physiology of newborn and juvenile reef sharks. Sharks that are born today represent adult shark populations of the future. Understanding how human and environmental impacts affect these sharks is crucial knowledge for developing effective shark conservation strategies.

The fieldwork is based at the CRIOBE Research Center on Moorea, French Polynesia. The project investigates the physiological energetics (i.e., costs/benefits) of newborn blacktip reef and sicklefin lemon sharks living in the 11 potential nursery areas identified around the island. For instance, the research team is investigating how well newborn sharks cope with hot water temperatures in these nurseries and how the cost of growing up in these nurseries will change with increased human disturbances like coastal development and climate change.

While French Polynesia is a protected shark sanctuary, there is a need to address the sharks’ physiological tolerance to the environmental conditions of their nurseries that will likely become more severe as climate change progresses. Decreases in physiological performance may translate to decreases in fitness.

What can we learn from these sharks – sharks that are protected in the largest shark sanctuary in the world – that can be applied not only locally, but also on a global scale?


 Our projects


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COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION

It is important for us to connect with the future generations of marine stewards and conservationists. By visiting local schools on Moorea and Tahiti in French Polynesia and across Australia, we are able to educate kids and young adults about the the problems our oceans are facing and the science we are doing to hopefully understand and solve those problems. Not only will our youth be the future decision-makers faced with cleaning up and preserving biodiversity and natural resources, both land and sea, but even today, our youth are able to influence the adults in their lives that are key to current decision-making and management of marine resources.

Indeed, our presence in French Polynesia extends beyond the laboratory; we undertake vital outreach and education programs to give back to those who generously host us.

Dr Jodie Rummer and her team also frequently present at international conferences and public events including the World Science Festival, TED, and via media platforms including the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and ABC.


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RESEARCH

Our research focuses on the populations of newborn blacktip reef and lemon sharks that use nursery areas around the island of Moorea. The primary objective is to understand how sharks in nursery habitats maintain or alter their physiology to cope with stressful environmental conditions.

We collect newborn sharks from these nurseries and, in the nearby laboratory, simulate a variety of conditions, including increased water temperatures, low oxygen, an elevated carbon dioxide (low pH). Then, via a series of performance tests, we can determine how sharks may or may not cope with future ocean conditions. We then release the sharks back to the habitats in which they were captured, as we also do field monitoring of their whereabouts as well as the environmental conditions of their habitats.


 
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GET INVOLVED

We love the passion that people bring to our project, and we are always on the look out for collaborators and partners.

There is plenty that you can do, from connecting with us on social media to hosting a screening of our new documentary.

If you have any questions about our project or how you can support us in our research, you can contact us here.

Baby Sharks in a Changing World

The Physioshark Research Program at James Cook University is dedicated to understanding how climate change is impacting sharks and informing conservation efforts. The team investigates the effects of rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and declining oxygen on the physiology and behaviour of sharks. Sharks are an important element of healthy environments and without them entire ocean ecosystems can fall out of balance. Based on the Great Barrier Reef and in French Polynesia the Physioshark Research Program seeks to understand and protect sharks in a changing world. By working to safeguard these important predators, the team is contributing to the health and sustainability of marine ecosystems, which are essential to the well-being of our planet.

To encourage donations to the cause, JCU has set up a page for non-U.S. donors and a page for U.S. donors (for U.S.-specific tax deduction purposes).


Publications

Newborn blacktip reef sharks and simulated climate change conditions

Weideli, O.C., Bouyoucos, I.A., Papastamatiou, Y.P., Mescam, G., Rummer, J.L., Planes, S. (2019) Same species, different prerequisites: investigating body condition and foraging success in young reef sharks between an atoll and an island system. Scientific Reports 9,13447. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49761-2

IF: 5.228, Citations: n/a, Altmetric: 46

Bouyoucos, I.A., Weideli, O.C., Planes, S., Simpfendorfer, C.A., Rummer, J.L. (2018) Dead tired: Evaluating the physiological status and survival of neonatal reef sharks under stress. Conservation Physiology 6:1 coy053. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coy053

IF: 3.634, Citations: n/a, Altmetric: 38


Working with sharks in the field & laboratory

Schwieterman, G.D., Bouyoucos, I.A., Potgieter, K., Simpfendorfer, C.A., Brill, R.W., Rummer, J.L. (2019) Analyzing tropical elasmobranch blood samples in the field: Blood stability during storage and validation of the HemoCue® haemoglobin analyser. Conservation Physiology (accepted 15 September 2019) doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coz081.

IF: 3.634, Citations: n/a, Altmetric: n/a

Bouyoucos, I.A., Simpfendorfer, C.A., Rummer, J.L. (2019) Estimating oxygen uptake rates to understand stress in sharks and rays. Reviews in Fish Biology & Fisheries 29(2):297-311. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-019-09553-3

IF: 3.299, Citations: 1, Altmetric: 29

Talwar, B., Bouyoucos, I.A., Shipley, O., Rummer, J.L., Mandelman, J.W., Brooks, E.J., Grubbs, R.D. (2017) Validation of a portable, waterproof blood pH analyzer for elasmobranchs. Conservation Physiology 5 (1): cox012. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/cox012

IF: 3.634, Citations: 1, Altmetric: 9


Elasmobranchs and climate change

Rosa, R., Rummer, J.L., Munday, P.L. (2017) Biological Responses of sharks to ocean acidification. Biology Letters 13(3) 20160796. doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2016.0796

IF: 3.089, Citations: 3, Altmetric: 56


Epaulette sharks hatching and developing under elevated temperatures

Gervais, C.R., Nay, T.J., Renshaw, G., Johansen, J.L., Steffensen, J.F., Rummer, J.L. (2018) Too hot to handle? Using movement to alleviate the effects of elevated temperatures in a benthic elasmobranch, Hemiscyllium ocellatum. Marine Biology 165:162. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-018-3427-7

IF: 2.215, Citations: n/a, Altmetric: 34

Gervais, C., Mourier, J., Rummer, J.L. (2016) Developing in warm water: Irregular colouration and patterns of a neonate elasmobranch. Marine Biodiversity 2016:1-2. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-015-0429-2

IF: 1.104, Citations: 1, Altmetric: 50


Healing rates in blacktip reef sharks

Chin, A., Mourier, J., Rummer, J.L. (2015) Blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) show high capacity for wound healing and recovery following injury. Conservation Physiology 3 (1):cov062. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/cov062

IF: 3.634, Citations: 10, Altmetric: 96


Epaulette and bamboo sharks under simulated ocean acidification conditions

Lopes, A.R., Sampaio, E., Santos, C., Couto, A., Pegado, M.R. Diniz, M., Munday, P.L., Rummer, J.L., Rosa, R. (2018) Absence of cellular damage in tropical newly-hatched sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) under ocean acidification conditions. Cell Stress & Chaperones 23(5):837-846. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12192-018-0892-3  

IF: 2.411, Citations: n/a, Altmetric: 6

Johnson, M.S., Kraver, D.W., Renshaw, G.M.C., Rummer, J.L. (2016) Will ocean acidification affect the early ontogeny of a tropical oviparous elasmobranch (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)? Conservation Physiology 4 (1):cow003. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/cow003

IF: 3.634, Citations: 3, Altmetric: 93

Heinrich, D.D.U., Watson, S-A., Rummer, J.L., Brandl, S.J., Simpfendorfer, C.A., Heupel, M.R., Munday, P.L. (2015) Foraging behaviour of the epaulette shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum is not affected by ocean acidification. ICES Journal of Marine Science (published online 8 May 2015). doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsv085 

IF: 2.377, Citations: 14, Altmetric: 40

Heinrich, D.D.U., Rummer, J.L., Morash, A.J., Watson, S-A., Simpfendorfer, C.A, Heupel, M.R., Munday, P.L. (2014) A product of its environment: The epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) exhibits physiological tolerance to elevated environmental CO­2. Conservation Physiology 2, cou047. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/cou047  

IF: 3.634, Citations: 16, Altmetric: 80

 our team


Dr Jodie Rummer Chief InvestigatorDr Jodie Rummer is an Associate Professor of Marine Biology in the College of Science and Engineering at James Cook University as well as an associate researcher in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studie…

Dr Jodie Rummer
Chief Investigator

Dr Jodie Rummer is an Professor of Marine Biology in the College of Science and Engineering at James Cook University and formally a researcher in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. She was the 2015-2016 recipient of the highly prestigious UNESCO-L’Oréal Women in Science Fellowship for Australia and New Zealand, an Australian Research Council (ARC) Super Scientist (2011-2014), an ARC Early Career Discovery Fellow (2015-2017), named one of Australia’s top five scientists under 40 (2016), and Queensland’s (Australia) Tall Poppy Scientist of the Year (2019).

Dr Rummer is a leading authority on the evolution of oxygen transport in fish and how fish maintain performance during stress. Her research, combines ecology, evolution, and physiology to address issues important to conservation, such as the effects of climate change and other human-caused problems on coral reef fishes, sharks, and rays and their potential for adaptation. Dr Rummer founded the Physioshark Project and has been leading this research programme and the students, staff, and volunteers involved since 2013.

jodierummer.com & rummerlab.com

Dr Johann Mourier Partner ResearcherIn the past 10 years, Dr Mourier has become one of France’s leading shark scientists. His research has focused on the ecology and conservation of marine predators, primarily sharks. He has been studying the behav…


Dr Johann Mourier
Partner Researcher

In the past 10 years, Dr Mourier has become one of France’s leading shark scientists. His research has focused on the ecology and conservation of marine predators, primarily sharks. He has been studying the behavioural, trophic, and movement ecology as well as and conservation biology of sharks using multiple advanced and non-invasive approaches including underwater observations, biologging, genetics, stable isotope analyses, and network theory. Most of his first studies, including his PhD research, were conducted in the remote and healthy coral reefs of French Polynesia (Pacific Ocean) on blacktip reef sharks. His research on juvenile reef sharks in Moorea served as a baseline for project PhysioShark. He is also involved in a citizen science program on elasmobranch (Shark Observatory of French Polynesia; ORP) since 2011. Dr Mourier has now published over 40 research papers in the field of behavioural ecology and shark science. These have generated nearly 1,000 citations (Google Scholar), and he has an overall H-Index of 18. This has established him as one of the leading early-career scientists in his field.

Dr Serge Planes Partner ResearcherDr. Serge Planes, Research Director at the CNRS, has been involved in the study of population genetics of marine fish in the Pacific since the beginning of his career that started with his PhD in 1989. Over the past…

Dr Serge Planes
Partner Researcher

Dr. Serge Planes, Research Director at the CNRS, has been involved in the study of population genetics of marine fish in the Pacific since the beginning of his career that started with his PhD in 1989. Over the past 30 years, he has published about 250 papers in international journals addressing population genetics of coral reefs, ecology, marine protected areas, and recruitment of marine fishes. With about 14,000 citations, his work has been highly recognized while demonstrating that coral reef fish populations are much more limited in space than was generally believed and that self-recruitment is significant drive. This view has major implications for conservation planning.

Such international recognition led Dr Planes to being invited to participate as a member of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and he was recently appointed as adjunct professor at Australian Institute or Marine Science. After having coordinated several European projects, numerous national projects, and the last Tara Pacific expedition, Dr Planes is presently directing the LABEX “CORAIL” awarded in 2011 for 10 years and renewed in 2019 for another 5 years, this being the major structural framework for research on coral reef ecology in France.

Dr Bridie Allan Partner Researcher  Dr Bridie Allan is a researcher at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Her research explores how environmental changes can alter the mechanisms underlying population processes and how these changes scale to co…

Dr Bridie Allan
Partner Researcher

Dr Bridie Allan is a researcher at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Her research explores how environmental changes can alter the mechanisms underlying population processes and how these changes scale to community dynamics. To do this, she uses field collections, observations and experiments in conjunction with laboratory experiments to investigate a wide range of environmental impacts that influence the physiology, behaviour and survival of fish.

Dr Allan’s field sites span both tropical, temperate and polar regions.

 
Dr Ian Bouyoucos Research collaboratorIan completed his Ph.D. as a co-tutelle at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (James Cook University) and the Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l’Environnement (École Pratique des Hautes Études). He investigated the ecophysiology of global change for tropical sharks by testing hypotheses predicting species’ vulnerability to global change phenomena, including ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation.Ian has been involved in shark research since 2008. For his research, Ian utilises a range of techniques belonging to the “Conservation Physiology Toolbox.” including respirometry and bio-logging. Before joining Physioshark in 2016, Ian’s previous research focused on understanding the energetic costs, physiological stress, and behavioural responses of sharks to longline capture, including the implementation of bycatch devices.

Dr Ian Bouyoucos
Research collaborator

Ian completed his Ph.D. as a co-tutelle at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (James Cook University) and the Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l’Environnement (École Pratique des Hautes Études). He investigated the ecophysiology of global change for tropical sharks by testing hypotheses predicting species’ vulnerability to global change phenomena, including ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation.

Ian has been involved in shark research since 2008. For his research, Ian utilises a range of techniques belonging to the “Conservation Physiology Toolbox.” including respirometry and bio-logging. Before joining Physioshark in 2016, Ian’s previous research focused on understanding the energetic costs, physiological stress, and behavioural responses of sharks to longline capture, including the implementation of bycatch devices.

 
Dr Ornella Weideli Research collaborator  Ornella is a Swiss marine biologist that has been studying shark ecology for the past eleven years. She is particularly interested in the behavioural and trophic ecology of sharks, as well as the conservation of coastal juvenile shark populations. Ornella is experienced in using various non-invasive methods such as stable isotope analyses, DNA barcoding, catch and release practices, and underwater observations.  Ornella first got involved into marine science during her internship at the renowned Bimini Biological Field Station (BBFS) in 2009. Fascinated by this experience, she returned to the station in early 2011 to investigate the diet of juvenile lemon sharks for her Master thesis. Following multiple jobs as a research assistant in the US, Seychelles, and French Polynesia, Ornella started her PhD at the French University EPHE in collaboration with the Save Our Seas Foundation - D'Arros Research Centre (SOSF - DRC), the CRIOBE and the Physioshark research programme. As part of her PhD, Ornella investigated the coexistence of two juvenile reef shark species and the possible effects of competition on the species' ecological niches. After obtaining her Ph.D. in summer 2020, Ornella continues to investigate sharks’ trophic ecology, as well as anthropogenic impacts on the ecology and physiology of sharks. In addition, Ornella raises awareness of sharks by sharing her knowledge through public presentations, media engagements, as a scientific expedition leader for the Sail and Explore Association, and as a mentor and consultant for undergrad students. To learn more about Ornella’s versatile work, visit her website: www.ornellaweideli.com

Dr Ornella Weideli
Research collaborator


Ornella is a Swiss marine biologist that has been studying shark ecology for the past eleven years. She is particularly interested in the behavioural and trophic ecology of sharks, as well as the conservation of coastal juvenile shark populations. Ornella is experienced in using various non-invasive methods such as stable isotope analyses, DNA barcoding, catch and release practices, and underwater observations.

 

Ornella first got involved into marine science during her internship at the renowned Bimini Biological Field Station (BBFS) in 2009. Fascinated by this experience, she returned to the station in early 2011 to investigate the diet of juvenile lemon sharks for her Master thesis. Following multiple jobs as a research assistant in the US, Seychelles, and French Polynesia, Ornella started her PhD at the French University EPHE in collaboration with the Save Our Seas Foundation - D'Arros Research Centre (SOSF - DRC), the CRIOBE and the Physioshark research programme. As part of her PhD, Ornella investigated the coexistence of two juvenile reef shark species and the possible effects of competition on the species' ecological niches. After obtaining her Ph.D. in summer 2020, Ornella continues to investigate sharks’ trophic ecology, as well as anthropogenic impacts on the ecology and physiology of sharks. In addition, Ornella raises awareness of sharks by sharing her knowledge through public presentations, media engagements, as a scientific expedition leader for the Sail and Explore Association, and as a mentor and consultant for undergrad students. To learn more about Ornella’s versatile work, visit her website: www.ornellaweideli.com

Dr Gail Schwieterman Research collaboratorGail’s research focuses on the understanding the impact of anthropogenic activities on coastal fish physiology with an emphasis on sharks and skates. She is interested in the intersections of basic physiology, ecology, and management, and seeks to further our understanding of multi-stressor impacts on ecologically important (yet understudied) species.   Gail received the prestigious Thomas Watson Fellowship, which allowed her to spend a year traveling the world and exploring different issues related to marine conservation, as well as the highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, which funded her graduate degree.

Dr Gail Schwieterman
Research collaborator

Gail’s research focuses on the understanding the impact of anthropogenic activities on coastal fish physiology with an emphasis on sharks and skates. She is interested in the intersections of basic physiology, ecology, and management, and seeks to further our understanding of multi-stressor impacts on ecologically important (yet understudied) species.

Gail received the prestigious Thomas Watson Fellowship, which allowed her to spend a year traveling the world and exploring different issues related to marine conservation, as well as the highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, which funded her graduate degree.

 
 
 
José E. Trujillo PhD Candidate  José is a PhD student investigating the ecological importance of nursery grounds to shark populations. His research is focused in the interplay between the habitat configuration and the mechanisms newborn sharks emplo…

José E. Trujillo
PhD Candidate


José is a PhD student investigating the ecological importance of nursery grounds to shark populations. His research is focused in the interplay between the habitat configuration and the mechanisms newborn sharks employ to deal with predation. His research tries to understand how the structural complexity of habitats and the environmental conditions are related to sharks’ refuge availability, and how the anti-predator strategies of newborn sharks are affected by the habitat they inhabit.

His previous study related to the ecology of shark nursery grounds investigated the effect of kelp forest complexity in nursery habitat selection in egg laying sharks.

Carolyn Wheeler PhD Candidate  Carolyn Wheeler is a co-tutelle PhD student at the School for the Environment at the University of Massachusetts Boston and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University (JCU).Carolyn spe…

Carolyn Wheeler
PhD Candidate

Carolyn Wheeler is a co-tutelle PhD student at the School for the Environment at the University of Massachusetts Boston and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University (JCU).

Carolyn spent the first half of her PhD working with the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium in Boston studying the effects of temperature on development and physiological performance of epaulette shark embryos and hatchlings. She was recently awarded a graduate research fellowship through the American Australian Association to continue her research at JCU assessing the impacts of thermal stress on reproductive success in adult epaulette sharks.

 
Rachel Skubel Research collaborator  Rachel completed her Ph.D. at the University of Miami's Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy / Shark Research and Conservation Program.She uses an interdisciplinary approach to study shark / climate / human interactions in South Florida, namely through ecophysiological indicators of risk in sharks, and socio-ecological systems analysis of shark fisheries.

Rachel Skubel
Research collaborator

Rachel completed her Ph.D. at the University of Miami's Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy / Shark Research and Conservation Program.

She uses an interdisciplinary approach to study shark / climate / human interactions in South Florida, namely through ecophysiological indicators of risk in sharks, and socio-ecological systems analysis of shark fisheries.


 OUR SOCIALS