2 weeks Ago
In the calm waters off Seal Beach, California, surfers are currently busy catching the best waves and beachgoers are soaking up the last of the summer sun before autumn is in full swing. A picturesque view, an often-overlooked danger lurks beneath the sand: stingrays. Often described as “danger pancakes” due to their flattened bodies, they are not as benign as their appearance might suggest.
These predators - who are also prey to many animals, including sharks - are equipped with venomous barbs on their tails, used defensively against potential threats. Found in coastal waters worldwide, these creatures can deliver painful stings with their barbed tails, and actually end up causing thousands of injuries each year . Dr.
Benjamin Perlman, a researcher at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), is leading a team dedicated to understanding the behaviors and defensive strategies of rays, wanting to shed some light on how these incidents occur and, more importantly, how they can be prevented. With a lab humorously named the Stingray and Butterfly Biomechanics Lab (STABB) , the scientist and his students largely focus on the round rays , the most prevalent species along California’s coastline. Unlike other ray species, round rays tend to stay hidden in the sand, relying on their natural camouflage to avoid predators — human included.
While the behavior is effective for survival, unfortunately it increases the likelihood of accidental encounters with unsuspecting beachgoers who stomp along the coastline blissfully unaware they’re about to step on an animal until it’s too late. You may ask why these people don’t employ the “ stingray shuffle .” Lifeguards and marine conservation organizations have been advocating for the stingray shuffle as a standard safety practice, emphasizing its role in mitigating human-marine animal interactions, yet it is not known by all.
It’s not a new dance move, but it is a way of moving. Instead of taking regular steps when entering shallow waters, individuals shuffle their feet along the sandy seabed. This movement creates vibrations that alert buried stingrays to their presence, prompting the animals to move away rather than feeling threatened and potentially striking defensively with their barbed tails.
It not only protects humans from painful stings but also prevents harm to stingrays themselves! But it isn’t always effective. Enter Perlman and his team, who are delving into the mechanics of stingray strikes and aiming to decode why and how these otherwise peaceful creatures unleash their tail. Understanding the circumstances under which stingrays strike is crucial for developing effective protective measures for us - through collaborations with experts in materials science and biomechanics - which aim to mitigate injury risk without harming the rays themselves.
Central to Perlman’s investigations? A life-like silicone foot mounted on a PVC pipe —a macabre, yet effective tool for simulating human interactions with stingrays. Through systematic tests, the team has been identifying specific triggers that prompt stingrays to strike, revealing that they’re most likely to retaliate when pressure is applied to their midsection. Makes sense, as that is where vital organs reside; this finding, Perlman says, reinforces the efficacy of the “stingray shuffle.
” Looking ahead, Perlman hopes to expand his research to include nocturnal behaviors and environmental influences on stingray behavior. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, from 3D imaging to high-speed video analysis, he wants STABB to be at the forefront of unraveling the complexities of stingray ecology and behavior, offering valuable insights for both local and global conservation efforts and beach management practices. While his journey into stingray research was serendipitous - sparked by a collaboration with CSULB's renowned Shark Lab and motivated by practical challenges faced by beach communities - he hopes his interdisciplinary approach in wildlife conservation and public safety will highlight stingrays’ role in coastal ecosystems often overshadowed by more sensationalized marine predators.
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