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Underwater sensing

WHOI biology adjunct scientist Jelle Atema (top in photo) and students Julia Spaet, Danielle Dixson and Joel Buytkins perform a shark sensory experiment in the Environmental Systems Lab. The research team is testing effects of elevated carbon dioxide levels on the odor discrimination capabilities of sharks. This shark (smooth dogfish) is swimming upstream in the “laminar” flume where odor is released from behind a turbulence generating obstacle (brick). Rhodamine dye is used to visualize the shape and extent of the odor plume.

(Photo by Tom Kleindinst, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)