Photos of glow-in-the-dark shark captured by scientists for the first time

admin 2021年3月15日

Intermediate

science & technology, science & technology - intermediate

210303105047-03-new-zealand-bioluminescent-shark-exlarge-169

©Dr. Jérôme Mallefet via CNN

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

When was the last time you have seen a live sea animal?
Are you willing to dive into the sea to discover other sea creatures? Why or why not?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

capture /KAP-cher/

[verb] – to record or take a picture of something using a camera
The incident was captured by a passer-by.

researcher /ree-SUR-cher/

[noun] – someone who studies a subject, especially in order to discover new information or reach a new understanding
The researcher is having a hard time to complete the experiment due to lack of data.

species /SPEE-seez (- sheez)/

[noun] – a set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can breed with each other
Most of the known bird species are North American.

laboratory /LAB-ruh-tawr-ee/

[noun] – a room or building with scientific equipment for doing scientific tests or for teaching science
The students are excited to do their science experiment in the school laboratory.

witness /WIT-nis/

[verb] – to see something happen
She was very thrilled to witness an extraordinary event.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

Scientists captured images of a glow-in-the-dark shark in New Zealand for the first time. Dalatias licha, a kitefin shark, is the world’s largest bioluminescent vertebrate, which can grow up to six feet long. As told by researchers from the Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain) and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the fish was found in the Chatham Rise, above South Island’s east coast.

Out of the 540 known shark species, 57 can produce light by biochemical reaction, UCLouvain’s head of the marine biology laboratory, Dr. Jérôme Mallefet explained. Mallefet added that kitefins are “really difficult to observe” as they live within 200 and 900 meters under the ocean floor. Bioluminescence was also witnessed in southern lanternshark (Etmopterus granulosus) and blackbelly lanternshark (Etmopterus lucifer).

Comprehension Questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.

What is the scientific name of the kitefin shark mentioned in the article?
Aside from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, from what institution are the researchers who study this case?
In which ocean was the shark witnessed doing bioluminescence?
Within how many meters under the ocean floor are these sharks living?
What are the two other sharks that were documented doing the same process?

Discussion Questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

Do you think that the Dalatias licha and the two other shark species mentioned should be studied further by scientists? Why or why not?
If given a chance, would you dive into the sea to witness the life there? Why or why not?
What is the importance of teaching the youth about the phenomenon mentioned in the article?
Kindly give some significant ways to preserve our sea wildlife.
If you could contribute to marine biology, what would you do?