Hybrid sharks found in Australian waters

[DigitalSoldier]

57 hybrids found in waters along east coast
They are cross between two distinct species
A sign sharks are adapting to climate change


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/technology/s...rs/story-fn5fsgyc-1226235304370#ixzz1iN16ONBC

SCIENTISTS have found the world's first hybrid sharks in Australian waters.
Leading researchers in marine biology discovered 57 animals along a 2000 km stretch from Queensland to NSW.

The predators are a cross between the common blacktip shark and Australian blacktip shark, two related but genetically distinct species.
The scientists say interbreeding between the two shark species is a sign the animals are adapting to climate change.
They also warn that hybridisation could make the sharks stronger.


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/technology/s...rs/story-fn5fsgyc-1226235304370#ixzz1iN1EhSDW

Interesting article

 

[Ancalagon]

Ugh....

What does this have to do with climate change? How can hybridizing the two species be an adaptation for climate change? Terrible journalism.

It could... but that remains to be seen. If in a few generations, these new hybrids are more competitive in the new climate changed waters, then we could say that the hybrid breeding was favourable for the new climatic conditions. Its too early to tell right now.

It might be as a result of climate change - that these sharks are swimming in waters that they normally would not, and are thus encountering each other and breeding - but its not an adaptation to it.

 

[Deep78]

When sharks start growing legs.... then i'll start $hitting myself, but I doubt I'll have to stress about
Rising water levels or disappearing landmass in my lifetime!!! but until then i suppose stocking up on
gas tanks, flares and harpoons for all you jaws fans would be a good idea :}

 

[mic_y]

got all excited about sharks growing friggin lasers on their heads...

 

[Ninja'd]

Damn I thought it was Sharktopus

 

[Neo_X]

got all excited about sharks growing friggin lasers on their heads...

LOL!

 

[w1z4rd]

Ugh....

What does this have to do with climate change? How can hybridizing the two species be an adaptation for climate change? Terrible journalism.

:erm:

Dr Jennifer Ovenden, of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, said: "Hybridization could enable the sharks to adapt to environmental change as the smaller Australian black tip currently favours tropical waters in the north while the larger common black tip is more abundant in sub-tropical and temperate waters along the south-eastern Australian coastline."
She added: "Wild hybrids are usually hard to find, so detecting hybrids and their offspring is extraordinary. To find 57 hybrids along 2000km of coastline is unprecedented."

So to put this into normal speak, the sharks that like colder water, are doing it with the sharks that like warmer water (a lot and all of a sudden)... so the babies of the colder water shark are better adapted to warmer climates and oceans.

It could... but that remains to be seen. If in a few generations, these new hybrids are more competitive in the new climate changed waters, then we could say that the hybrid breeding was favourable for the new climatic conditions. Its too early to tell right now.

Wow, a marine biologist!

It might be as a result of climate change - that these sharks are swimming in waters that they normally would not, and are thus encountering each other and breeding - but its not an adaptation to it.

I used to think you understood evolution. Its pretty clear that your knowledge there is as sound as your climate change science.

 

[Tun@]

I think the interbreeding happens to a degree anyway,have seen it with stripe marlins & blue marlins.
In Aus your allowed to commercially land the striped marlins but not the blues so you must distinguish which is which.
Sometimes its not possible = cross breed(Hybrid).

 

[Nerfherder]

It might be as a result of climate change - that these sharks are swimming in waters that they normally would not, and are thus encountering each other and breeding - but its not an adaptation to it.

No, that is exactly what adaption is.

I think that what is confusing and perhaps implied by the article is that they are saying that the sharks are trying to adapt. That is completely unproven.

All that is happening is that two different types of sharks are breeding, their offspring are better adapted to survive (more so then their parents) and so they are thriving.

 

[azbob]

[video=youtube;_FkI69t9eIY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=_FkI69t9eIY[/video]

 

[Ancalagon]

:erm:

Dr Jennifer Ovenden, of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, said: "Hybridization could enable the sharks to adapt to environmental change as the smaller Australian black tip currently favours tropical waters in the north while the larger common black tip is more abundant in sub-tropical and temperate waters along the south-eastern Australian coastline."
She added: "Wild hybrids are usually hard to find, so detecting hybrids and their offspring is extraordinary. To find 57 hybrids along 2000km of coastline is unprecedented."

So to put this into normal speak, the sharks that like colder water, are doing it with the sharks that like warmer water (a lot and all of a sudden)... so the babies of the colder water shark are better adapted to warmer climates and oceans.



Wow, a marine biologist!


I used to think you understood evolution. Its pretty clear that your knowledge there is as sound as your climate change science.

Sigh. I dont know why I bother sometimes.

Anyway, the sharks are not trying to adapt. They are just breeding. They just happen to breed with sharks that they do not normally breed with, due to climate change. Its not like they are actively seeking the other species to benefit their young. Please tell me that is not what you are suggesting.

Perhaps these new hybrid sharks will be better adapted to the new ocean temperatures, and thus they will thrive. It is too early to tell. That is exactly how evolution works - populations change by mutation or exchange of genetic information through breeding, and this change is mostly random. However, those that are more fit for the environment will survive better, and this is not random. This is natural selection.

No, that is exactly what adaption is.

I think that what is confusing and perhaps implied by the article is that they are saying that the sharks are trying to adapt. That is completely unproven.

All that is happening is that two different types of sharks are breeding, their offspring are better adapted to survive (more so then their parents) and so they are thriving.

Thats my point - the article implies that this is an adaptation to the different temperatures. It isnt. How is breeding with another species an adaptation? Remember, these sharks are not aware of such things. They dont even know whether these other sharks tolerate the different water temperatures better than they do. They just happen to be in the right place at the right time - due to climate change - and thus breed.

An adaptation would be the sharks - through random mutation - developing a layer of insulating fat for cold temperatures, for example (do sharks store fat?). As I said, this is not an adaptation.

 

[Shake&Bake]

Not suprised that its an Aussie species cross breeding. The humans there have the same relationship with sheep.

 

[Edduck]

I don't think this is a matter of "adapting" but more of a new species gaining a competitive advantage because of the mixing of adaptations of species preferring two different water temperatures. What remains to be seen is if this is a small subpopulation that all show consistent species characteristics or if it is random individuals in different populations. If it is the latter, then this hybrid species will have a hard time increasing its population size. I wonder what the sample size was of the new hybrid species. Hopefully it is more than two.....

 

[Mineer]

unless shark know of climate change I am calling bs
They will also need to know the properties of the different sharks and also the brains to conclude that
(shark A) + (shark B) = (shark c) and know that shark c will be able to adapt to weather changes

Maybe the author of article spoke to the shark researches (actual sharks who are researches) and got the article from them