James Sulikowski talks tiger shark ultrasound research on ‘Good Morning Maine’

Ultrasound being performed on a live tiger shark. Photo credit: Jim Abernethy
Photo credit: Jim Abernethy

James Sulikowski, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Marine Sciences, sat down with the hosts of “Good Morning Maine” on WVII to talk about his groundbreaking study using ultrasounds to study the reproductive behavior of Tiger Sharks. 

Sulikowski, along with 鶹ýstudents and researchers from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, used the same ultrasound imaging technology used by medical professionals on pregnant women to study the reproductive biology of female tiger sharks. The study offers marine biologists a new technique to investigate the reproductive organs and determine the presence of embryos in sharks without having to sacrifice the animal first, which was commonly done in the past.

Sulikowski brought props to the show including a tiger shark jaw and an ultrasound machine.