by Jen C.
In honor of Discovery’s hit television programming, Shark Week, here are some resources to help you gain insight into these fascinating creatures, get hyped for the frenzy, or to revisit any time you need an extra dose of shark in your life.
Sharks are often misunderstood, in part due to a bad reputation created by sensational and terrifying depictions in film and literature. There are many species of shark that have been swimming around for over 400 million years, since before the dinosaurs, possibly even before trees! Sharks maintain balance in the ocean’s food web and help cycle nutrients between ecosystems, they are vital for the conservation and sustainability of life on earth.
Suggested Titles
Shark – Explores what motivates sharks, dispelling some of the myths about their behavior, and interesting facts about the immense diversity among sharks and their relatives.
Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures Of A Rogue Shark Scientist – This debut from marine biologist and co-founder of Minorities in Shark Sciences, Jasmin Graham’s memoir is inspired by her innate connection to nature's most misunderstood animal--the shark.
Shark - From shark attack survivor to the shark's biggest advocate, Paul de Gelder tells us just why these majestic diverse animals need our help as much as we need them. Shark is his love-letter to these unfairly vilified animals, and his warning to the world about what will happen if we don't look out for them.
The Shark Almanac – A fully illustrated natural history of sharks, skates, and rays, with 25+ color photos of familiar and unusual species of color, line drawings and black and white photos throughout.
Shark Biology and Conservation – A digital resource to feed your fascination with sharks! This complete resource enlightens readers on the biology, ecology, and behavior of sharks with approachable explanations and more than 250 stunning color illustrations.
The Secret Life of Sharks – Challenges misconceptions about natural shark behavior, describing how sharks participate in intricate social relationships, their preference for non-human prey, and their elaborate biological survival activities.
Why Sharks Matter – An award-winning scientist and science educator takes readers on a tour of the world of shark research and conservation, explaining how to protect the world's most misunderstood animals and why we should do so.
The Secret History of Sharks – John Long, who for decades has been on the cutting edge of shark research, weaves a thrilling story of sharks’ unparalleled reign. With insights into the threats to sharks today, how they contribute to medical advances, and the lessons they can teach us about our own survival, this digital resource is a riveting look at scientific discovery with ramifications far beyond the ocean.
Learn More
Dive deep into the lives of sharks with these online resources.
Library Resources
- Gale In Context: Science: Features articles, videos, science experiments, and resources.
- GreenFile: Focuses on the relationship between human beings and the environment.
- Science Reference Source: Combines three science reference databases in one searchable format with in-depth information.
You can also broaden your search with Sno-Isle’s list of accessible databases related to science and nature.
Other Resources
- NOAA Fisheries: As one of the top ocean predators, sharks play an important role in the food web and help ensure balance in the ocean’s ecosystem. With increased demand and exploitation rates for some shark species and shark products, concern has steadily grown regarding the status of many shark stocks and their exploitation in global fisheries. NOAA Fisheries is committed to sustainable shark management.
- Office of Marine Conservation: The Office of Marine Conservation (OES/OMC) formulates and implements U.S. policy on a broad range of international marine conservation issues in order to ensure economic prosperity and security through healthy, sustainably managed fisheries in the oceans and Great Lakes.
- Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs: The Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs (OPA) is a part of the State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES). OPA is responsible for formulating and implementing U.S. policy on international issues concerning the ocean, the Arctic, and the Antarctic.
