Prof. Samuel H. Gruber
RSMAS/MBF
University of Miami
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, FL 33149
Telephone: 305.421.4146
Fax: 305.421.4600
sgruber@rsmas.miami.edu

From the beginning of my scientific career, more than 30 years ago, I have been interested in the biology and behavior of elasmobranch fishes. My research from 1960-76 involved anatomy, physiology and psychophysics of the visual system of the lemon shark. Beside characterizing basic functions of the shark eye, we developed some unique training techniques to communicate with our shark subjects. During a transition period between 1974-78, I began to expand the research toward a more field-oriented, ecological framework with the objective of quantitatively defining the role of the shark in a tropical marine ecosystem. This expansion culminated in a decade-long, NSF-supported study of the early life history of the lemon shark. The investigation involved a dozen individual laboratory and field studies and provided degree projects for 10 graduate students. Presently, I am summarizing the overall results of the 10-yr. study with the objective of producing a predictive, mathematical model of the lemon shark based on the bioenergetics of the juvenile stages. This theoretical exercise is expected to suggest a series of hypotheses which will form the basis of future research projects.