WINGS IN THE WATER PRESENTATION (Revised October, 2009) Video-Enhanced Presentation by Topside Narrator The following is an outline of information that should be utilized by the Topside Narrator during the presentation at the Wings in the Water exhibit on Level 1. A model script follows the attached outline. MAKE THE INFORMATION YOUR OWN - Feel free to use your own words, personality, and style during your presentation. However, it is critical that the presentation fits the parameters below: Begin on time. Talk for 8-10 minutes. Contain the key points in outline and correct information (refer to model script). SUGGESTIONS - Make the presentation informative and interesting: Share your enthusiasm for diving and the animals. Refer to both the exhibit and video (video is helpful in maintaining presentation flow). 1
I. INTRODUCTION (NAIB LOGO) a) Welcome to the Aquarium b) Introduce yourself and divers c) Responsibilities d) General Exhibit Facts (Refer to Video) Animals Calypso How to learn more II. CARTILAGE VS. BONE (Fade to black) a) Unique to sharks and rays b) Define cartilage c) Compare with tarpon d) Swimming Styles (Refer to Video) Sharks Compare different rays TOPSIDE SCRIPT OUTLINE III. NON-AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS (Fade to black) a) Divers in the audience? b) Barbs for protection c) Barb location d) Stingray shuffle IV. FEEDING (Fade to black) a) Nervous to dive? b) Accustomed to divers c) Mouth location d) Teeth e) Shy Bullnose & abundant Cownose V. VARIOUS MODES OF REPRODUCTION (Fade to black) a) Live birth of southern stingrays b) Egg laying in Zebra sharks VI. MISCONCEPTIONS (Fade to black) a) What comes to mind b) Mass media s bad reputation c) About 50% of sharks are less than 5 feet long d) Attacks are a result of VII. NAIB SHARK PROGRAM (Fade to black) a) Top predators b) Tagging VIII. OVERFISHING AND BYCATCH (Fade to black) a) Late maturity/few young b) Define bycatch c) Millions killed annually IX. POLLUTION AND HABITAT DESTRUCTION (Fade to black) a) Nursery grounds b) Pollution sources c) Animals harmed X. CLOSING REMARKS (NAIB LOGO) a) All of us needed to save sharks b) Teach someone else c) Thank you and enjoy the rest of your day 2
TOPSIDE SCRIPT (October 2009) Topside Narrator stands on riser box by Dive Platform on Level 1 I. INTRODUCTION (NAIB LOGO) Good morning/afternoon and welcome to the National Aquarium. My name is and I am a volunteer here at the aquarium. My fellow divers are entering the Wings in the Water exhibit to feed a variety of more than 50 animals. We are part of a team of over 200 volunteer divers that are responsible for the care of this exhibit. Wings in the Water is home to several species of rays (Pause), several species of sharks (Pause), and several large silver fish called tarpon. It is also where you will find Calypso, our endangered green sea turtle. This animal was rescued after stranding off the coast of New York. You may notice that it only has three flippers. Its left front flipper had to be removed due to a severe infection and prevents the animal from being released into the wild. To learn more about Calypso or any other animals in the exhibit, feel free to ask one of our exhibit guides or consult the information labels located on the railings. II. CARTILAGE VS. BONE Unlike bony fish, sharks and rays are related by having a unique skeleton made of cartilage. This is the same tough, flexible material that allows your nose and ears to be wiggled. (Narrator could wiggle their ears and nose). Bony fish, like the tarpon, have skeletons made of bone like in our bodies. Now, take a moment to observe the different swimming styles of these animals. Do you see how the sharks propel themselves with their tail or caudal fin? (Pause) Some rays such as bullnose rays and cownose rays, flap their triangular pectoral fins up and down much like a bird. Southern and roughtail rays move by rippling the outer edges of their large, rounded fins. Open with NAIB logo Intro footage Video of rays swimming and divers feeding Calypso Shot of an Exhibit Guide talking with visitors at Ray Tray Close up of ID label Sharks and rays, versus tarpon footage to match script Video of cownose, southern, roughtail swimming III. NON-AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS (Start during fade) Do we have any divers in the audience? (Pause) If you have ever encountered a ray while diving, you may have noticed how shy they are. Stingrays are not aggressive and only use their barbs for protection. The barb is located on the ray s tail close to the body. Most stings occur when someone accidentally steps on them. To prevent this, you can do the stingray shuffle. Just shuffle your feet along the sand as you walk. Shot of live stingray with barb Video of stingray shuffle 3
IV. FEEDING (Start during black fade) How many of you would be nervous to dive in this exhibit? (Pause) As you can see, our stingrays are used to divers and will take food from their hands. A ray s mouth is located on the ventral or under side of its body. Stingrays can have either individual teeth, like you see in the video, or they can have teeth that are fused together to form a plate like structure. These teeth help crush the shrimp, squid, smelt, and clams that divers are feeding. This video clip shows a diver feeding a bullnose ray, the most timid animal in the exhibit. Cownose rays are the most numerous animal in this exhibit. They are also the most abundant ray in the Chesapeake Bay, and may school in the thousands. Diver feeding rays Photo of ventral side & mouth & teeth Video of diver feeding bullnose Picture of schooling cownose rays V. VARIOUS MODES OF REPRODUCTION Sharks and rays reproduce in a variety of different ways. Stingrays give birth to live pups. After a gestation of about six months, female rays can have up to ten pups. Similar to rays, many sharks give birth to live young. However, some sharks, like the zebra shark in the exhibit next to me, lay eggs. Each egg case contains one developing embryo that will hatch after about 4 months. VI. MISCONCEPTIONS (Start during fade) What comes to mind when you think of sharks? (Pause) Mass media causes many of us to imagine something very different than reality. These animals do not deserve their bad reputation. About 50% of sharks are less than 5 feet long. (Pause) Attacks are not a result of too many sharks, but rather too many people using their habitat. Did you know that you are more likely to be killed by lightening than to be attacked by a shark? (Pause) Sharks deserve our protection, and should not be feared. VII. NAIB SHARK PROGRAM The National Aquarium in Baltimore is working to help save sharks. As top predators, sharks play a vital role in the ocean s ecosystem, and help maintain the natural balance and diversity of the environment. The Conservation Department of NAIB participates in shark conservation annually by tagging sharks off the coast of Maryland. Each shark is, identified, weighed, and measured before being tagged with a number then released. Information is sent to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as part of their Apex Predator Investigation, which studies the life history of these important shark species. Photographs of newborn southern stingrays Zebra shark footage Zebra Shark Egg Picture Zebra shark egg cases Slow motion video of sand tiger feeding Video of people on beach Video sandbars Video of tagged small Sandbars Video of sandbar release 4
VIII. OVERFISHING AND BYCATCH The biggest threats to sharks and rays are overfishing and bycatch. They are especially vulnerable because they mature late in life and have few young. Sharks are overfished for their fins, meat, cartilage, and jaws. Millions are accidentally caught and killed in nets and on fishing lines each year. These unwanted animals are usually just shoveled over the side as waste or bycatch. Many sharks are victims of bycatch. IX. POLLUTION AND HABITAT DESTRUCTION Habitat destruction is another threat that affects sharks and rays. How many of you live in coastal areas like the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay? (Pause) These habitats are nursery grounds for many sharks and rays, and are impacted by pollution and trash. Over 80% of marine pollution comes from land. Remember, we all live near streams and rivers, which lead to the ocean. What we do in our own backyards can harm aquatic animals and their habitat. Marine animals including sharks, rays, sea turtles, marine mammals, and even birds are harmed by marine debris. For example, sea turtles frequently mistake plastics for food, while sharks are often entangled in fishing gear. X. CLOSING REMARKS Here at the Aquarium, you will discover that it s going to take all of us to save the aquatic world. Biologists, divers, kids, you and I we all have an important job ahead of us. We encourage you to teach someone else that sharks and rays are amazing animals that deserve our respect and need our protection. To learn more, please visit our website or talk with any of our Aquarium staff. Thank you and enjoy the rest of your day here at the National Aquarium. Video of bycatch Bycatch being shoveled overboard Shark footage Chesapeake Bay footage Pollution video (trash on beach & seagull on trash) Picture of entangled animals Video of people, divers, kids, etc Field work, website, staff, etc... End with NAIB Logo END CREDITS (NAIB LOGO) 5
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