Research Grant
[Cite as http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP0558681]Researchers: Professor Justin Marshall (Chief Investigator) , Nathan Hart (Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship)
Brief description Aquatic eye design: sharks and rays as models of underwater colour and luminance vision. Sharks are usually assumed to be colour blind. We have discovered that they may in fact see colour very well and that the eyes of different species are adapted to their particular lifestyles. Our research will help to raise the profile of sharks and portray them as animals with advanced sensory systems and complex visual behaviours rather than just dangerous killing machines. Studying the vision of sharks may also help to reduce the number (currently >50,000) that are killed each year as bycatch by Australian long-line fisheries and make a valuable contribution to one of Australia's National Research Priorities (an Environmentally Sustainable Australia) for managing and conserving our biodiversity.
Funding Amount $550,000
Funding Scheme Discovery Projects
- ARC : DP0558681
- PURL : http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP0558681