Do sharks have emotions? It seems to me that mammals are far moreemotional creatures then fish, reptiles and insects.

(name witheld by request)

Emotion is defined in Webster's New World Dictionary as "any specificfeeling: any of various complex reactions with both mental andphysical manifestations, as love, hate, fear, anger, etc." Eachhuman attribute must be objectively defined as an externalmanifestation before we can determine whether an animal possessesone. With humans, we can detect an emotion such as anger by theraising of the voice or the lifting of one's fists in a show ofthreat. 

Sharks do not have vocal chords and can not communicate anger byraising their voice. Female hammerhead sharks do chase smaller andless strong sharks from the center of schools by performing a threatconsisting of reverse flip and full twist in diving parlance. Whitesharks frighten competitors away from a seal carcass by lifting thetail out out of the water and propelling a sizable splash in thedirection of the other. However, we can not know whether thesebehaviors may be an outward manifestion of anger.

What do you think could be the most important things that wecould learn about the great white shark as far as behavior, habits,range, etc. Thanks.

(name witheld by request)

One theory explains much white shark behavior that in the past hasbeen enigmatic. White sharks seize humans, yet often release themwithout removing a bite. I have proposed that the species has apreference for energy-rich fat, and for this reason, it eats seals,sea lions, and whale blubber, which are rich in fat, but spits outbirds, sea otters, and humans, that are very lean. The reason whythese sharks are so selective in what they eat is that they dwell incold waters. They may need this extra energy to keep their bodytemperature elevated, warm their eyes, and brains so that they cansuccessfully chase and capture marine mammals. Of course, the marinemammals have evolved a fatty layer to keep them warm in cold watersand suffer the consequence in being the favored prey of adult whitesharks.

How long have you been working in the field of shark research? Do youenjoy it?

(name witheld by request)

I entered the Master's degree program at the University of Miami'sRosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences fall of 1973.For the next three and a half years, I studied how sharks wereattracted to prey based upon the sounds they emit and how sharks werefrightened by sudden looud sounds. My career as an animalbehaviorist interested in sharks and other large fishes as stretchedover 25 years. I love the work and hope to continue it for another25 years.