Shark Hematology and Physiology: Integrating Ecological and Veterinary Approaches
Shark populations globally face a multitude of threats, and data on their ecology and habitat use is needed to improve management strategies. Tagging methods are one of our best strategies to answer these questions, yet the tagging process is physiologically stressful for individuals. In collaboration with veterinary specialists trained in shark emergency medicine from the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Salt Lake City, Utah, we are developing and trialing new field procedures to reduce stress and post-release mortality in tagged individuals, which would benefit sharks and field biologists worldwide.
Additionally, there is a significant need to establish reference intervals for complete blood counts (CBCs) and blood chemistry for shark species. No reference intervals exist for the species of interest in this study, making our findings valuable for conservation biologists and veterinarians. An understanding of their basic physiology can help us detect how sharks are responding to a warming ocean.
In 2025-2026, we will conduct a study on the sharks in the Gulf of California to:
i) establish reference intervals for complete blood counts (CBCs) and blood chemistry values for shark species in the region
ii) develop protocols to decrease stress and increase survivability during and after the tagging process
iii) characterize the population health and diet preferences for shark species in the region through blood and fecal analyses
Species of Interest
This Project
Our Collaborators
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
Dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems.
Pelagios Kakunjá
Marine Conservation
Our main goal is to study and protect sharks and mantas in Mexico, many of which are globally endangered, mainly due to overfishing. We aim to provide technical information for the regional management and implementation of conservation strategies for these species here in Mexico.