1. Shark Migrations Due to the Earth’s Geomagnetic Pathways
Stacy Assael
Marine Affairs and Policy, M.S.
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami

2. Background
There has been evidence of animals using geomagnetism when migrating:
Homing Pigeons
Monarch Butterflies
Salmon
Cetaceans

3. Proposal
Sharks are also using geomagnetic pathways located in the earth’s crust to travel long distances across earth’s oceans.

4. Methods Attach satellite tags on to pelagic sharks
Use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to plot the shark’s coordinates against a map of the magnetic pathways

5. Goals Understand shark migratory patterns
Determine which areas of the oceans sharks are using when migrating
Predict shark locations in an attempt to gain more information about their life history

6. Acknowledgments
Special thanks to the Dr. Neil Hammerschlag and the RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program for giving me the opportunity to get my hands wet!