Porbeagles and Publications: An Interview with Brooke Anderson

Brooke Anderson is a PhD candidate studying sharks at landlocked Arizona State University. WOS Editor, Dana Tricarico finds out more about her background and research below!

1.    I noticed that you received your Bachelor’s degree at Coastal Carolina University. What did you study there, and did you always know that your career trajectory would lead you to elasmobranch research?

Hello Women in Ocean Science! My name is Brooke Anderson and I am a marine biologist that studies sharks and other fish. While growing up in rural Maryland, I found my passion for marine science at a young age (I think I was 7) from spending summers with my grandparents in the Florida Keys where I learned to snorkel, scuba dive, and fish. I received my Bachelor’s degree in marine science (with a minor in applied mathematics, because math is cool too!) from Coastal Carolina University and my Master’s degree in marine science from the University of New England. 

While I always knew I wanted to be a marine biologist, it wasn’t until my undergraduate studies that I found my calling in elasmobranch research. For my freshman year marine biology course, my professor took the class on a shark longlining survey where I caught and tagged my first sandbar shark. On the trip back to the dock, my professor turned to me and said “Brooke, you haven’t stopped smiling all day”. From that day on, I was hooked (pun intended) on elasmobranch research!

2.    Can you describe your current Ph.D. research at Arizona State University and what brought you there? How do you hope this research will contribute to the field upon graduation?

So many people are shocked when I tell them that I am a shark researcher doing my Ph.D. at Arizona State University, it’s so unexpected. My primary advisor from my master’s program, Dr. James Sulikowski, moved his lab to ASU and I was given the unique opportunity to continue on to do my Ph.D. in the lab and to study sharks in the desert. Most people would be surprised by how many marine researchers there are at ASU, and aspiring marine biologists should keep this in mind when searching for educational and research opportunities. I am currently in the first year of my Ph.D. program so I still have a lot to plan and develop, but my research will generally focus on the movement ecology of shark species. In particular, I am interested in understanding both the horizontal (geographic location) and vertical (depth) movements of porbeagle sharks and how this may differ by life stage (juveniles vs. adults) and reproductive state (pregnant vs. non-pregnant). This information is particularly important for this understudied species that is historically overfished and is vulnerable to capture (as bycatch) in several fisheries. Having information on the habitat use of important life stages is necessary to managing the species effectively and developing ways to avoid capture of this species so population recovery can occur. I hope all of my Ph.D. research will aid in the management and conservation of elasmobranch species, particularly those species which are subjected to high fishing pressures.

3.    Where do you see yourself working after you obtain your Ph.D.? This is a hard question for anyone, so it’s completely fine to say “I don’t know!”

This is the big-ticket question, and one that I am still trying to figure out. There are so many different paths that can be taken, and as of now I am open to pursuing academia, industry, or non-profit careers. I think its best not to limit the scope of potential career options, especially in this competitive field. So…maybe check back in again in 5 years 😊

4.    Throughout your schooling thus far, what is the class that taught you the most?

Several classes come to mind…but I would have to say first and foremost the class that was the most influential to me was a marine biology lab course I took during my undergraduate program at Coastal Carolina University. This course was taught by a shark biologist, gave me my first field research experience that solidified my interest in becoming a shark researcher, and led to my undergraduate research project on shark community ecology. This lab course also taught me several other necessary skills for becoming a marine biologist. I have generally found practical experience you get in lab courses to be the best preparation for becoming an independent scientist. I would also like to mention that the research methods course I took during my master’s program at the University of New England contributed to my improved understanding of proper project development and statistical analyses which are integral to any students’ progress into becoming an independent researcher. 

5.    What research project have you been a part of to this point that you are most proud of? If there are research papers of your own, or that you were a part of, please feel free to link those!

I am very proud of a research project that I led to estimate the survival of juvenile porbeagle sharks that were captured and released in the rod-and-reel tuna fishery. Porbeagle sharks are overfished in the Atlantic Ocean and there are very strict regulations on fishing harvest for the species because of this. Juvenile porbeagles are often captured (as bycatch) in the rod-and-reel tuna fishery in the region and most of these juveniles must be discarded due to the species regulations. This sounds great in theory…however, the ability of the current porbeagle harvest regulations to reduce mortality and aid in the recovery of the population depends on the ability of the discarded juveniles to survival the stress and injury caused by capture. If discarded porbeagles are still dying due to capture and handling, then the population may not successfully recover from overfishing, and this highlights the importance of understanding the survival of sharks that are captured and discarded as bycatch. I am proud that the research I have done may help guide successful management and recovery of the porbeagle shark. This project is complete and the research paper is currently under peer-review, so be on the lookout for the publication soon!

6.    A lot of our Women in Ocean Science (WOS) community is struggling with the uncertainties brought on by covid-19. What challenges has your research and your degree faced in this unprecedented year?

Covid-19 has definitely brought some unexpected challenges to my research. Because of the location of my University (the desert….no ocean in sight!!), my field research requires travel, which has been challenging or impossible so far this year. Several of my field research trips have been cancelled, but I am remaining hopeful that the fall will bring opportunities to get out on the water to tag porbeagle sharks in New England. However, I am fortunate to have (lots) of tagging and movement data that I have already collected and I am ready to start analyzing during downtime, as well as other lab work to analyze reproductive hormones in sharks that can also be completed in the meantime. 

7.    How can the general public be advocates for elasmobranch protection?

This is a great question, there are so many ways the general public can be advocates for elasmobranch protection! First, any way you can reduce your impact on our ocean ecosystems can directly help conserve elasmobranchs. A couple tips are to avoid seafood or at least only eat sustainable local caught seafood as well as to limit your plastic use. It’s also important for everyone to promote positive messages about sharks, whether that be with your family and friends or on social media. Keep up to date on current shark research and even reach out to volunteer with a local shark research group!

8.    The marine science field can be a difficult one for those starting out. Could you give some advice to those in our WOS community who may be struggling to break into this field?

My advice for those struggling to find their place in the marine science field is to be persistent as well as flexible. You may not land your first interview, or even your second, tenth, etc., and that’s okay! Keep on showing that you are dedicated to this field and you will find your place to shine. I also say to be flexible because very rarely are you going to have your perfect project, study species, or job fall into place right away. Be open to projects or jobs that may not exactly fit your daydreams, because no matter what you will benefit from field, lab, and/or modeling experience. And then you will be better prepared when the time comes to start your dream research project! 

9.    The big question- what is your favorite shark?

I have to be a little biased and say my favorite shark is the porbeagle shark because it’s my main study species. But there are also SO MANY cool things about this not well-known shark! It is one of few endothermic shark species, meaning it is adapted to be able to maintain its body temperature higher than the surrounding water temperature, which allows the species to inhabit fairly cold waters for extended periods of time (it’s commonly found in Canada, burr!). Porbeagles are also one of few oophagous species, which means that developing embryos (baby sharks) feed on unfertilized eggs delivered into the womb until they are born.  

10. Feel free to add anything else that you think is important to share!

I have to add that I am so happy to be a part of this community that supports women and diversity in ocean sciences! We are in this together!