Cool Jobs: Aquatic Biologist, Pamela Schaller

TL;DR

Dr. Pamela Shaw is a senior aquatic biologist who spends her days studying and caring for animals such as penguins, sharks, and octopuses.

Transcript

who here likes animals yeah I mean not not to eat them which is not nice but like to play with them to explore them to figure out what they how they live and what they do our next well I met just imagine a job that is perfectly designed for anyone who loves animals who loves getting wet who loves doing experiments who loves finding things out the n... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧡 Dr. Shaw's job as a senior aquatic biologist involves interacting with a wide range of aquatic animals, including sharks, octopuses, and penguins.
• 🤚 She is responsible for various tasks, such as assisting with shark births, hand-raising penguin chicks, and feeding the penguins.
• 😨 Dr. Shaw designs exhibits and ensures the well-being of the animals in her care.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does a shark give birth?

Sharks can give birth by laying eggs or by live birth, and the video shows a pregnant shark giving birth to live offspring. The babies are born upside down and need to start feeding right away.

Q: How does Dr. Shaw hand-raise penguin chicks?

Dr. Shaw steps in to hand-raise penguin chicks when necessary, usually around three or four weeks old. She becomes somewhat imprinted on them, but at around two or three years old, they find a mate and live together for the rest of their lives.

Q: How did Dr. Shaw move large sharks?

Moving large sharks required Dr. Shaw to enter a tank with scuba gear and guide the sharks into a sling. With the help of eight people, they were then transported in a container to another location.

Q: How does Dr. Shaw keep track of the fish fed to each penguin?

Dr. Shaw can identify individual penguins based on their physical markings and behavior. She keeps track of each penguin's feeding, ensuring they all receive the appropriate amount of fish.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dr. Shaw spends half of her day in a wetsuit, interacting with various aquatic animals.

• She studies and cares for animals like sharks, octopuses, and penguins, including assisting with shark births and hand-raising penguin chicks.

• Dr. Shaw also designs exhibits and ensures the well-being of the animals under her care.