Scientists in Monterey Bay were surprised to discover that an underwater robot they had deployed recently to study harmful algae blooms had been attacked by a great white shark.
The underwater robot is named Tethys, which was used in the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute's CANON experiment: a two-week project that tracked nutrients that fertilize algal blooms off Central California.
Apparently, a large great white shark mistook the long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (LR-AUV) as prey.
The top photo shows technician Thomas Hoover measuring bite marks left by what scientists believe is a 12- to 15-foot white shark.
The second photo shows Jim Bellingham displaying a tooth that was embedded in the robot.
"The aluminum shell and carbon-fiber fairing of the vehicle were badly scratched, but held up to the crushing bite–a testament to the design skills of MBARI's engineers," MBARI stated on its website.
–Pete Thomas
–Photo credit: Jim Bellingham (top photo) and Todd Walsh
Accurate measuring technique.
Posted by: Izzy | Oct 10, 2013 at 06:34 PM