We acknowledge the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation
for securing the specimen and arranging the dissection. We are most
grateful to Dave Jessup DVM for the use of the
dissecting facility at the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center
of the California Department of Fish and Game in Santa Cruz CA. We acknowledge suggestions by
Barry Bruce, Dave Casper, Geremy Cliff, Leonard Compagno, Clinton Duffy,
Malcolm Francis, Kirsten Gilardy, Rick Martin, Jeff Siegel, Wade Smith, and
John Stevens.
Scott Anderson (Scott D. will relay any info)
Dave Casper DVM (831) 459-3135, dcasper@cats.ucsc.edu
Scott Davis, (831) 688-7281, scottyd40@hotmail.com
Dave Ebert, Ph.D. (831) 457-2794, daebert@usabalone.com
Brandy Faulkner, 650-493-0850, brandyfaulkner@hotmail.com
Callaghan Fritz-Cope, 415-751-1474, calfc@pacbell.net
Dave Harris (Corrine D. will relay any info)
Jack Hawkes (Melissa M. will relay any info)
Randy Johnson, (415) 499-5742,
Melissa Miller,
DVM, MS mchechow@cwo.co
Henry Mollet Ph.D., (831) 375-5076, mollet@mbay.net
Corrine Davis, DVM, Diplo. ACVP cbdavis@ucdavis.edu
Sean Van Sommeran, (831) 459-9346 psrf@pelagic.org
Brent Wright 338-0449 brentw1@scruznet.com
Jeff Reinhardt (831)883-0425; Billy Jakl
(831)384-6903; May Ngyuen (408)294-4139 and other students as support and
clean-up crew.
Some people
from Bodega BBML and UC Davis will be attending as recipients and observers.
For information only: Carmel Babich,
local enforcement director/warden cbabich@dfg.ca.gov
Fred
Arnoldy (skipper on the Rosa Lana Marie) caught a female white shark on 23 Nov
2000 (day after Thanksgiving) at around 9 AM when pulling up his halibut gill
net about 3 miles out in Morro Bay Ca in about 30 fathom (60 m) deep
water. The shark wrecked FredŐs
halibut gill net after getting entangled.
Fred figures it died while caught in the net, and others speculate it
drowned while being pulled back to the harbor. Among his helpers was Ken Wise, a longtime
friend of FredŐs who runs a kelp harvester. Ken recalls seeing a great white
6-7 years ago but it was ŇonlyÓ 600 lbs. (272 kg). Shark weighed in at 1700
lbs. (771 kg) and measured 13 feet, 9 inches (4.2 m). (Weight was confirmed
later with digital scale, TL measured during pre-dissection was a little higher
(4.33 m).
Note: The head will get dissected at a later
date to be scheduled. (Sean V.)
George Benz, Tennesse Aquarium, P.O.
Box 11048, Chattanogga TN 37401, gwb@tennis.org.
Any external parasites, gill arches, and olfactory sacs. To be shared with PSRF.
Brandon Brown, brbrown@euclid.math.usfca.edu.
Collect ampullary jelly.
Janine Caira, Dept. of Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT. Tapeworms from stomach. .To be shared
with PSRF
Dave Casper will
be present to collect centra to be utilized for stable isotope studies. .
Corrine Davis will be present to
collect various tissue samples for histology (epigonal organ, nidamental gland,
uterus, rectal gland and other assorted tissues (became 15!).
Kevin Feldheim, 780 Weidner
#203, Buffolo Grove, IL 60089. White muscle tissue
sample
Kirsten Gilardi,
Wildlife Health Center School of Veterinary Medicine University of California
TB 128 Old Davis Rd. Davis, CA 95616. 1 gram (wet weight) each: muscle, liver, brain for sturdy of
environmental contamination of white sharks
Alexander Godknecht a.godknecht@zi.unizh.ch. Center for Computing Winterthurerstr. 190 CH-8057 Zuerich,
Switzerland. White muscle tissue sample.
Ken Goldman, VIMS, Fisheries Science
Laboratory, P.O. Box 1346 Gloucester Pt., VA 23062. keng@vims.edu. Eye and orbital retia. To be shared with PSRF.
Ed Heist, Fish & Ill. Aquacul.
Ctr. SIU, Carbondale, IL 62901-6511. White muscle tissue
sample.
Cathy Jones, Muscle tissue sample for DNA. Can be shipped in same envelope
going to Amanda Pardini.
Andy Martin Dept of EPO Biology CB 334 University of Colorado, CO
80309. Andrew.Martin-1@Colorado.EDU. Muscle tissue Sample
for DNA.
Gavin Naylor, Biology Dept. ISU, Ames IA 50010. White muscle tissue sample.
Henry Mollet, will be present to
collect complete reproductive tract, if necessary. Also will collect section of
vertebrae from below first dorsal fin for aging study (MLML). Save a few for Ken Goldman and Lisa Natanson/Wes
Prattt. Remaining vertebrae PSRF.
Amanda Pardini
Dept. of Zoology, Tillydrone Ave, University of
Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ Great Britain.
a.pardini@abdn.ac.uk. Heart tissue sample for DNA. Tooth to check if DNA can be
extracted.
PSRF head, the fins, the vertebral
column and various tissue, organ and dermal denticle patch samples.
Mahmood Shivji Oceanographic Center Nova
Southeastern Univ. 8000 N. Ocean Drive, Dania FL 33004.
mahmood@ocean.nova.edu. Red and white muscle tissue samples for DNA plus
fingernail size sample of any fin.
Doug Stoner address?. White muscle tissue sample.
Acknowledgments of receipt of samples
from George B., Kevin F., Andy M. Amanda P., Mahmood
S. Nothing from Alex, Gavin, and Doug (sent a sample a bit later)
Hi Henry,
Sorry. I meant to write. The
shark tissue you sent yielded very high
quality
DNA. The sample is extremely valuable as we have so few sharks from California
(only 13). I am really interested in sampling more white sharks from the
eastern Pacific.
Andy
Stainless temperature gauge with long
shaft (4-8Ó).
2000 lbs. hanging scale, smaller scale to weigh smaller
organs.
Buckets with set of ropes for weighing organs.
Tape measures of various lengths, calipers of various length,
Headboard or poles for large morphometrics (TL, FL, and PCL)
Appropriate dissection tools. Big sharp knifes. Scalpels for
tissue samples.
Vials and plastic containers filled with 95% EtOH or 10% formaline for samples.
Extra plastic bags for saving larger organs plus coolers with
ice for temporary storage.
30 garbage bags for disposal of leftovers.
16 Jan.
2001. ~NOON. Shark to be moved to the very large adjacent walk in refer for
the first day or two to slowly begin the thaw. Use stainless thermometer with long
shaft to monitor temperature. If it
is not proceeding rapidly enough, pull it out into ambient air. If it is thawing too rapidly, put it
back in the big refer. CFG facility has small commercial ice making machines
that produce both cube and crushed ice at about 50 lbs. per hour with a storage
capacity of several hundred pounds. If still icy
inside, on day of dissection, use hose and spray body cavity to speed thawing.
Preliminary documentation and morphometrics depending on
circumstances.
TL = 4.33 m , FL = 3.90
m, PCL = 3.49 m, girth 2.40 m, mass 772 kg.
There were some scars around the head,
none appeared prominent in the usual places to suggest mating.
Brent Wright took
photographs. He is going to
construct some very large pictures and print them life size. He will try to construct a virtual
reality shark, which does not look like it was frozen with a flat stomach.
Jan. 21, 2001.
NOON.
Document & photograph color patterns, axially spots, pigmentation, net
marks, wounds, bites and scars.
Look for mating bites/scars, particularly around head, pectoral fins,
dorsal fin, and trunk. Document location of ecto-parasites and save for PSRR
and George Benz.
I know that I specifically mention to folks to
record where they were
taken
as I realize that their were probably more than a single species.
I wouldn't have guessed five, but certainly
expected more than one.
As to their location.
Most came from the pelvic fin region. Some were on
the ventral
surface, others on the dorsal surface. Some were near the
cloacal
area while others were definitely attached to the dorsal surface
of the pelvic
fins. A few were taken from the dorsal fins. I believe
some
were attached to the anterior margin of the D1. A couple were
taken
from
the base of the second dorsal.
I may have some photo's, but won't know until I
get them back from the
photo
processor next week.
> 4) The while shark is
known from my records to also have
copepods
that specifically attach in the mouth, on the gills, and in the nose, were
these sites checked
thoroughly? If not, that's fine,
but of course we need to
relate the examination details in our note as this host may have
had even more species on it!
I don't recall removing any from the head region as Sean wanted to
retain
it for other purposes. The gills are probably fairly damaged by
now, but the
nostrils and mouth may still have something. Although
having
been frozen and thawed there's no telling what condition the may
be in.
> 5) Was the shark moved
about a lot (or frozen and thawed) before
being sampled, such that copepods could have
fallen off? Some of the
copepods certainly appeared damaged. Please advise as to back ground
between
captured and examination.
Henry could/has provided information on this
aspect. Those on the pelvic
area
were almost certainly damaged as the shark was moved about.
> 6) Is there anyway that the copepods could
have represented
contamination
of >sorts, say from those that had fallen off of other sharks?
I doubt it, but Henry could verify. All of the
copepods were attached as
they
probably were in life and appeared to have been frozen along with
the shark.
The sample you sent really is interesting. It contains 5 species of parasitic
copepods! Globally, the white shark
is infected with more than a half score of copepod species, however, I am
unaware of any report of 5 copepod species all found on the general body
surface of one host (host species aside).
I'm still gathering background information, but I think I might like to
write up a short note on this interesting case. Toward this end, I hope you can help me
with the following questions:
Also: I noted 5 total species and 12 total
individuals in the sample you
sent
me. Were there any other
individuals collected, or was 12 it?
Full set of morphometrics measurements. Girth (2.0-2.5 m) requires a tape to be put
down before shark is put on the ground. Weight to be taken with 2000
lbs. hanging scale when the shark is on a forklift. Was 1700-1800 lbs. (771-816
kg) dripping wet in Morro Bay.
Excerpt of morphometrics taken by Wade
Smith, Joe Bizzarro, and Erica Burton in Morro Bay, Henry M. and Jeff Reinhardt during pre-dissection, Dave E. &
Henry M. prior to dissection: TL = 4.33 m, FL = 3.90 m, PCL = 3.49 m, girth
2.40 m, mass 772 kg. A full set of
morphometrics using SELDATS IIII (LJVS 1986-9-4) data sheet was taken.
Remove
fins. Save PSRF. Small
(fingernail size) fin sample for Mahmood Shivji.
Roll
on left side (if possible) and do dissection on the right (side with functional
ovary in mature females).
Was rolled on back and opened with one
long lateral cut back to front.
Open
right side with one, long lateral cut about halfway up the body cavity-then
make one connecting cut perpendicular to the initial cut ahead of P1 and
another perpendicular cut near P2. This makes a large flap that can be lifted
dorsally (if possible) or cut-away in slices if the shark is too big.
Note. All internal
organs were in excellent condition. For example, repro tract, after removal and
quick storage in cold room, was looked at about 1 hr after it had been cut out.
Dissection indicated that epigonal was still slightly frozen at beginning and
had thawed completely toward end of partial dissection of left epigonal organ.
Remove
liver (try not to pierce the gall bladder) and weigh it in chunks if
necessary. We expect each lobe of
liver to weigh around 75-100 kg for a total of 150-200 kg (20-25%). Save sample for PSRF. Not suitable
(fresh enough) for RNA sample. As per standard veterinary practice, multiple slice liver
to check for looking for internal pathology.
Liver mass 122 kg
(15.8%, 66.0 + 51.5 + 24.0 – 3 x 6.5). Tail spine (barb) was
found in anterior end of liver (near point where the two lobes adjoin) with
pointed end sticking out 6-7 mm.
Barb is likely from bat ray.
Multiple slicing showed that the liver was clean (no pathology) and no
other spines were found.
1. The spine appears to be that of a bat ray. I
looked at some in the
collection
including a bat ray spine taken out of a white shark and I
feel
that that is what it is at this point. So let's go with that.
Remove
stomach and valvular intestine (spiral valve) and weigh (expect 5 kg for spiral
valve). Count spiral valves. Save PSRF.
Total mass
17.5 kg (2.27%) including 8.0 kg (1.04%) for spiral valve. Stomach basically
empty with a smelly mass of 0.895 kg (0.116%) near the pyloric valve (weighed
separately). 52 spiral
valves.
Stomach content (look for remains of small animals such as squid
beaks, fish otolith, fish bones etc and large ones. Save PSRF. Save tapeworms
or other parasites from intestine. Put in 10% formaline for PSRF and Janine
Caira. Examine and weigh visceral retia
(countercurrent heat exchanger, rete mirable).
Stomach
empty apart from well digested smelly goo near pyloric valve (entry to valvular
intestine). Sean strained it but found nothing. No tapeworms were found.
Rete 5.855 kg.
Remove
and weigh (if possible) pancreas (expected weight 1 kg) and associated (with
stomach) mesenteries. Save PSRF.
Pancreas 1.645 kg.
Gastric
lesion observation by Corinne Davies. The stomach wall had a 14 x 8 cm region
of thinning near the cardia. This region lacked rugal folds and the wall was
approx. 1 cm thick, which was 1/3 to 1/2 the thickness of the surrounding
gastric wall, which had well-developed rugal folds. Along the margins of this thin region,
there was a gradual loss of the mucosal folding pattern, i.e., no abrupt change
in the mucosal lining. The mucosa
in the thinned region appeared similar in color and texture to the more folded
regions of the remainder of the stomach.
The serosal surface in this area was unremarkable. My impression is that this was not an
inflammatory lesion -no reddening, no ulcer margin, no adhesions or scar tissue
on the serosal surface indicative of a gut puncture. It seems that a spine
might puncture the wall and seal over pretty rapidly; I'm not convinced it
would leave such a large thinned area. Since I don't know where in the liver
the spine was located, I cannot speculate about proximity to the stomach. My husband photographed the ray spine as
well as the affected area of stomach. I will be examining that area of the stomach as
well as a more "normal" section.
Remove
reproductive tract (expected weight 8 kg) comprising epigonal organs, oviducts
with shell glands, if developed, isthmus and uteri. Look for a
hymen (membrane) in the opening of the vagina/uterus to determine if she has
mated previously. The
epigonal organ is a soft pinkish-brown organ that
runs along the back of the body cavity, wider at the anterior end (expect ~110+
mm) than posterior (expect ~10+ mm).
The ovary (expected to be size of small fist and weigh around 300 g)
will be embedded near the front of the right epigonal organ and therefore will
not be visible. Demarcation between epigonal organ and ovary may not be
clear. We donŐt expect to see
individual ova within the ovary, but it is worth checking. Check if there is any difference between
left and right, given that so many sharks only have functional right
ovary. If we can locate
ovary in the anterior part of the epigonal organ, dissect and take dimensions and weigh (in mature specimen there would
be a central lumen and thousands of eggs/ovarian follicles and one would take
small sample for later count). If we cannot find the right ovary, remove and freeze the entire epigonal organ and anything
that looks like it might be reproductive organ for future investigation (Henry
Mollet). Measure uterine width at
several points (front, mid, rear) and length. Shell gland dimension (&
weight?) if developed. Check for uterine fluid?
The anterior
end of the epigonal organ had numerous very small ovocytes
(~1-2 mm diameter), but nothing larger.
The left (?see below must have been right) epigonal organ was slightly more developed
than the right (left) . (After we cut out the reproductive tract it
was stored in a bucket in the cold room and we could not tell left from right
when it was examined in more detail later.
We have pictures prior to removing it that will verify which epigonal
organ it was).
The
nidamental (shell) glands did not look fully developed but the histological
examine will confirm this. The uterus did not appear to be pendulous; it
appeared to be fairly constricted and unlikely to have had embryos. The
anterior end of each uterus was heavily vascularized (trophonemata?). My best
guess is that it was maturing, but was still not quite there yet.
ItŐs
possible that the ovary turned to mush, but I doubt it. The internal organs were still
semi-frozen when we opened her up and we were pretty careful in examining it
prior to removing the reproductive tract. It will be interesting to see what the
histology has to say.
Another
observation is that while there were some scars around the head, none appeared
prominent in the usual places to suggest mating.
Whole repro
tract (epigonal organs and uteri,
plus rectal gland 7.620 kg (1.0%) saved in 10% formaline (H.F. Mollet). DonŐt know how the rectal gland ended up
with repro tract. Sections of
epigonal organ and uterine wall were also placed in formaline for histological
evaluation (C.R. Davis). LotŐs of pictures were taken.
Changed from right to left below 11
Feb 2001
Left uterus, width 41.5, 56.4, 47.6 mm (anterior to
posterior, check), length?
(can measure later). UWI = 56.4*100/4333 = 1.30%.
moved from below epigonal organ. Showing possible trauma effect at
transition from vascularized part to lower part about half way
Hi Corrine and Dave,
#112, of "congested" uterus was last
photo taken. Last because we went back to have another look at it later after a
student pointed it out to me. We were dealing with the left uterus, width 41.5,
56.4, 47.6 mm (anterior to posterior, check), length? (can
measure later). UWI = 56.4*100/4333 = 1.30%. Showing possible trauma effect at
transition from "vascularized?" part to lower part about half way
down. We did not observe any vascularized? section in
the right uterus.
If you look at Fig. 16 in Mathews (1950) on
basking shark, you see the uterus in mature basking sharks comprises 3 parts.
At top is uterus lined with folds, then comes uterus lined with trophonemata, then vagina. I guess that it's possible that
what looked like a possible trauma effect to you, could have been the beginning
of the development of tophonemata. It has been
suggested that mother-milk does play a role in perhaps the early stage of
embryo development in lamnids (Gilmore for sandtiger). I don't know why this
the developments of trophonemata had not started in
right uterus. What do you suggest?>
Cheers, Henry
Note that Fig. 16 also nicely shows bifurcation
of oviduct originating from functional ovary on right "inside" the
epigonal organ. We had a hard time to tell the ovary from the epigonal organ in
our immature female. The ovary sort of takes over the epigonal organ and the
epigonal organ may start to shrink. In our immature white shark the epigonal
was as long as the uterus, the schematic figure of the repro organs of a mature
basking sharks shows a considerably shorter egigonal
organ.
Right
uterus, width
47.5, 60, 42.6 mm (anterior to posterior, check) length? (can
measure later). UWI = 60x100/4333= 1.38%
Left
epigonal organ , width 117, 60, 17 mm (anterior to posterior), length 1210
mm. Showing possible trauma effect at transition from vascularized part to
lower part about half way. Can be weighed later.
no longer sure if uterus or epigonal organ had this pronounced
transition from more to less vascularized. Jpg#112 shows red, congested uterus,
Last photo taken because we went back to have another look based on suggestion
by one of GiacŐs students
Right
epigonal organ , width 132, 59, 11 mm (anterior to posterior, much bulkier
at anterior end compared to right, determine L or R by checking photographs
when repro tract was cut out from body cavity), length 1215 mm. Can be weighed
later, guesstimate is 0.5 – 1kg.
Corrine took section?
Left shell gland 35.1 wide x 64.4
mm long
Right
shell gland (better visible, appeared to be slightly more developed) 39.2
mm wide x 64.6 mm long. This gland
was sectioned and placed in formaline for histological evaluation (C.R. Davis).
Remove
and weigh heart (expected weight 1 kg). Save PSRF. Heart tissue sample for
Amanda Pardini
Heart 1.88 kg (0.244%)
Remove
and weigh (if possible) spleen (expected weight 0.5 kg), kidney, and rectal
gland. Save PSRF.
Spleen 0.40 kg (0.052%).
Fillet to expose the vertebrae. Vertebral count (expect 172-187,
99-108 precaudal, 68-83 caudal, count mono- and diplospondylous vertebrae;
centrum diameter of largest vertebrae (expect 6-7 cm). Save PSRF. Cut out block
of vertebrae (say 10) from below 1st dorsal fin and put on ice (for aging MLML,
Henry Mollet). Additional
vertebrae to be saved for Ken Goldman and Lisa Natanson/Wes Pratt. Centra also to be utilized for stable
isotope studies. Will try to detect
the change in isotope signature inside the centra as the shark starts to predate upon mammals (Dave
Casper).
Prelim. vertebrae count 94 + 21 + 70 = 185. Was X-rayed. Preliminary
band count was 12.
White muscle tissue samples for Kevin Feldman, Alex Godknecht, Ed
Heist, Cathy Jones, Andy Martin, Gavin Naylor, Amanda Pardini, Mahmood Shivji, Doug Stoner. Red
muscle tissue for
Mahmood Shivji.
Environmental
contamination of white sharks. Tissue sample collection
protocol by Kirsten Gilardi.
1)
Please collect at least 1 gram (wet weight) each: muscle, liver, brain. Ideally, muscle should be collected from
dorsum, caudolateral from dorsal fin.
Use stainless steel instruments to handle tissue; it is preferable that
the tissue samples not come into contact with aluminum foil, latex gloves or
plastic surfaces.
2) Place each tissue in a separate glass jar (EPA clean jars, provided) and
close lid finger-tight. Label jar
with: date, location, shark
identification number, age and sex of shark, tissue type, and initials of
collector. Place samples in jars in
a <0C freezer (not at –80C
-- glass may break).
3) Samples stay at MWVCRC until someone goes to
Davis. Otherwise they
would be shipped by Fed Ex
overnight (next business morning).
An insulated container with blue ice is adequate for overnight shipping
of the frozen samples.
Remove
entire head and put aside for PSRF. Will get dissected later. Eye and orbital retia for Ken Goldman. Weigh brain and
examination for possible cerebral rete when dissecting head to remove jaw and
chondrocranium. Send brain to Glen
Northcutt? Eye and orbital retia for Ken
Goldman? Parasites
in olfactory bulbs for George Benz.
One or two teeth (replacement teeth from the
back for Amanda Pardini? Measure tooth
interspaces for Ralph Collier? Brandon
Brown will collect ampullary jelly and document distribution of Ampullae of Lorenzini..
Hi Henry and Dave,
Thanks for the follow-up messages regarding the
copepods collected from your white shark. That would be great if your photos
provided more information regarding copepod attachment locations.
Regarding copepods associated with the he ad:
Check the jaws (between the teeth) and
elsewhere within the mouth and on the gill arches themselves.
Also check on the gill filaments, on the
capping tissue that covers the
efferent
arterioles.
The 2 species of copepods that attach in the
mouth and on the gill arches and on the gill filaments are each good size and
can be easily seen with the naked eye.
Olfactory sacs: best to dissect them out and
get some 10% formalin inside them and then send them to me to dissect
further. The copepods that reside
in the nose are usually clear and relatively small.
Also: I noted 5 total species and 12 total
individuals in the sample you
sent
me. Were there any other
individuals collected, or was 12 it?
Again, thanks for including me.
Cheers and best fishes,
George
Hi Sean,
Recently I received a sample of copepods from
the "Morro Bay white shark." The sample was interesting because
although it consisted of only 12 individuals (and some were partial specimens)
they represented 5 species. While all of the species are well known what's
interesting about this is that the general body surface of 1 fish was infected
by 5 species. This would be worthy
of a short note in an appropriate journal and hence I'm pursuing more
information.
The copepods that I received came from about
the vent. Do you know if any other
copepods from this fish were collected, and if so, is it possible for me to
examine them? If other copepods
were collected I hope data on where they were attached was also collected.
In addition, the gill arches, gill filaments, interbranchial septa, jaws (between and about the teeth)
and general buccal cavity of the white shark are
known to be occasionally infected with up to 4 additional species of parasitic
copepods. Do you know if any where collected from these areas and if they are
available? If these regions have
not yet been examined for copepods, will/can they be
and can I learn of the results?
Lastly, the olfactory bulbs of this shark may
contain yet another species of parasitic copepod. To look for these small copepods one
needs to carefully dissect out and fix (10% formalin) the olfactory sacs and
then dissect them under a microscope.
It's good to gently squirt some fixative into the sac before plunking it
into formalin so that the interior gets fixed rapidly. I could do the dissections if the fixed
sacs could be sent to me.
Please advise. Once I've gathered all of the data
regarding this case, I will write up a draft manuscript for all of the
co-authors to sign off on. Seems as if you will be on this list.
Thanks for your help.
George
George W. Benz, Ph.D.
Director, SARI
Tennessee Aquarium and SE Aquatic Research
Institute
One Broad St.
Chattanooga, TN 37401
phone
706 694-4666
fax 706 694-3957
e-mail GWB@tennis.org
We
expect around 1300 lbs. of remains. That would be 26 bags of 50 lbs. each.