The Methods used to Collect Shark Teeth

We used a screenwashing method to look for shark teeth within our study sites.  Each group collected ten 1-gallon buckets of sediment from each of our study sites. 

We went for our trial run at Flag Ponds we had six groups with four students in each group.  Each group looked for shark teeth in areas of fifty feet along the beach.  After our trial run at Flag Ponds we went to Brownie’s beach, Scientists Cliffs, and Matoaka Cabins.             

Some materials that we used at Flag Ponds were a five gallon bucket and a big strainer.  We rinsed the samples many times before we looked for teeth.  The problem with this method was that all the little shark teeth fell through the big strainer.                                    

The groups had to try something else or we were not going to find many shark teeth.  Since little shark teeth fell through we used a hand held strainer with 1/8th inch holes.  Some groups still used the big strainer but they looked under the strainer for small teeth that fell through.  The groups also rinsed the sample a lot less.  The teeth we found might have been small but they still gave us what we needed.

      At each of the beaches we used a GPS (Global Positioning System) device and made a point at each site.                                   

     After each day back to school we looked at the teeth and decided what species of shark the tooth came from.  WE used maps, charts, and books to help us identify the teeth.