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Sociable Sharks | National Geographic


for more than 40 years marine biologist

for more than 40 years marine biologist Samuel Gruber has been researching the

Samuel Gruber has been researching the

Samuel Gruber has been researching the behavior of lemon sharks but he’s never

behavior of lemon sharks but he’s never

behavior of lemon sharks but he’s never seen anything like this dozens of them

seen anything like this dozens of them

seen anything like this dozens of them huddled together on the bottom here off

huddled together on the bottom here off

huddled together on the bottom here off the coast of Jupiter Florida he’s about

the coast of Jupiter Florida he’s about

the coast of Jupiter Florida he’s about to dive 80 feet below to find out why

to dive 80 feet below to find out why

to dive 80 feet below to find out why the water is murky as Gruber gets deeper

the water is murky as Gruber gets deeper

the water is murky as Gruber gets deeper it’s clear he’s not alone a school of

it’s clear he’s not alone a school of

it’s clear he’s not alone a school of more than three dozen adult lemon sharks

more than three dozen adult lemon sharks

more than three dozen adult lemon sharks ready and waiting summer as long as ten

ready and waiting summer as long as ten

ready and waiting summer as long as ten feet an awesome sight but it doesn’t

feet an awesome sight but it doesn’t

feet an awesome sight but it doesn’t stop Gruber from getting close enough to

stop Gruber from getting close enough to

stop Gruber from getting close enough to touch them what are so many sharks doing

touch them what are so many sharks doing

touch them what are so many sharks doing in the same place at the same time he

in the same place at the same time he

in the same place at the same time he believes the Predators are displaying

believes the Predators are displaying

believes the Predators are displaying what he calls refuge een behavior

what he calls refuge een behavior

what he calls refuge een behavior they’re out and about when the sun goes

they’re out and about when the sun goes

they’re out and about when the sun goes down there out feeding moving around and

down there out feeding moving around and

down there out feeding moving around and when the Sun comes up they begin to go

when the Sun comes up they begin to go

when the Sun comes up they begin to go to this particular place where they can

to this particular place where they can

to this particular place where they can assemble and rest on the bottom now

assemble and rest on the bottom now

assemble and rest on the bottom now resting on this bottom gives them a

resting on this bottom gives them a

resting on this bottom gives them a little bit of an energetic edge in the

little bit of an energetic edge in the

little bit of an energetic edge in the sense that they can face up into the

sense that they can face up into the

sense that they can face up into the current and they don’t have to swim

but there may be more to it than resting

but there may be more to it than resting lemon sharks are social animals and

lemon sharks are social animals and

lemon sharks are social animals and sometimes school in small groups this

sometimes school in small groups this

sometimes school in small groups this might also be a sort of mating game the

might also be a sort of mating game the

might also be a sort of mating game the females are assembling here in order to

females are assembling here in order to

females are assembling here in order to attract males that’s what I think is

attract males that’s what I think is

attract males that’s what I think is going on here and the way it works I

going on here and the way it works I

going on here and the way it works I think is that early in december a group

think is that early in december a group

think is that early in december a group of females who know to come here because

of females who know to come here because

of females who know to come here because they’ve done it year after year will

they’ve done it year after year will

they’ve done it year after year will assemble at this Gruber suspects female

assemble at this Gruber suspects female

assemble at this Gruber suspects female lemon sharks have chosen this reef as a

lemon sharks have chosen this reef as a

lemon sharks have chosen this reef as a place for producing chemical signals

place for producing chemical signals

place for producing chemical signals called pheromones the pheromones are

called pheromones the pheromones are

called pheromones the pheromones are carried by the currents and they attract

carried by the currents and they attract

carried by the currents and they attract potential male suitors and then it’s on

potential male suitors and then it’s on

potential male suitors and then it’s on to the domestic phase when this group

to the domestic phase when this group

to the domestic phase when this group reaches a critical mass say around March

reaches a critical mass say around March

reaches a critical mass say around March or februari March they begin to move out

or februari March they begin to move out

or februari March they begin to move out and they move into the lagoon from

and they move into the lagoon from

and they move into the lagoon from mating and and birthing which takes

mating and and birthing which takes

mating and and birthing which takes place in April’s

and if Gruber’s hunch is right he can

and if Gruber’s hunch is right he can expect another miracle soon when these

expect another miracle soon when these

expect another miracle soon when these creatures bring a new generation of

creatures bring a new generation of

creatures bring a new generation of lemon sharks into the ocean

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