Love the beach but fear shark ? Your risk of choke in a shark attack is minute — roughly1 in 3.7 million — but it ’s still a danger nonetheless . Scientists say white sharks are becoming more prevailing along California ’s coast thanks to Union protection , and on the diametric side of the country , Cape Cod lately reckon its firstfatal shark attackin more than 80 old age .
A new proof - of - concept work , publishedinFrontiers in Marine Science , could shed new light on what ’s lollygag beneath the surface . Researchers from UC Santa Barbara , the U.S. Geological Survey , and partner university theorized that environmental DNA ( eDNA)—an organism ’s cast - off bits of hereditary material — could show the mien of white shark in a particular part of the California coast .
White sharks forge distinctive trails by spill skin and clear mucus , feces , and other genetic markers in brine . Researchers created a species - specific trial run for white shark eDNA , then twit stand - up paddleboards to four sites beyond the note of surf to collect water supply samples . After analyzing the sample distribution in the laboratory , they found ashen shark eDNA in two sample distribution from areas where the fish were known to gather , and no eDNA in the other two samples from site where sharks had n’t been observed . The upshot from the preliminary experimentation evidence that the new test could accurately identify the shark ' eDNA — and that might make unnecessary a surfboarder in the future .
" One of the goals of this inquiry is for a lifesaver to be able to walk down to the shore , outdo up some water , sway it , and see if white sharks are around , " Kevin Lafferty , lede author of the report , say in astatement .
The use of eDNA has some restriction . sea currents can get eDNA to drift , and that transmitted information can degrade quickly in the surrounding surroundings . “ Another challenge is that eDNA might persist in the ocean environment for days , meaning a positive detection might suggest a species that is no longer locally present , ” the research worker compose in their newspaper . Still , they say the growth is a step in the right direction for expert shark monitoring and conservation efforts .
