In this episode of Beyond All the Sharks, marine ecologists Dr. Chris Malinowski and Dr. Brendan Talwar join fellow Shark Doc Dr. Heather Middleton on Heron Island—a remote research station nestled into Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Together, they explore how this iconic island has evolved from a turtle cannery into a hotspot for shark and ray science and what it teaches us about biodiversity, adaptation, and the urgent need for conservation. From the shallow reef flats to the deep impacts of climate change, this is a deep dive into one of the most vibrant marine ecosystems on the planet.
🦈 In this episode, we cover:
– The transformation of Heron Island from turtle cannery to protected Green Zone
– Ray and shark mating behavior, olfactory communication, and reproductive strategies
– Epaulette sharks and their chemical cues: what pheromones can tell us about courtship
– Research at the Heron Island Research Station and its role in global reef science
– How climate change is affecting shark movement, mating, and survival
– The importance of protected zones in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
🎧 Whether you're a marine biologist, conservationist, diver, or shark enthusiast, this episode offers fresh perspectives and emerging science from one of the world’s most studied reefs.
🎙️ About our guest:
Dr. Heather Middleton is a marine scientist and shark researcher based at the Heron Island Research Station. Her recent work focuses on the chemical ecology of elasmobranchs, including groundbreaking research on pheromones in epaulette sharks. She combines field ecology with behavioral studies to better understand how marine species interact, reproduce, and respond to environmental change.
📸 Special thanks to: Andy Murch – www.sharksandrays.org | YouTube: @bigfishexpeditions8233 | Instagram: @bigfishexpeditions; Dr. Heather Middleton, Dr. Lawson (@_alinya), and Dr. Wheeler for their photos and videos; and Dive Spear and Sport – for supporting our dive team at Heron Reef
📚 Further Reading & Resources
For full references and links to the scientific literature mentioned in this episode, visit our YouTube channel @SharkDocs
🔗 Follow us for more shark science and conservation:
📸 Instagram: @shark_docs
▶️ YouTube: @SharkDocs
🎯 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/shark_docs
🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.
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