By RUDI HEMPE
CELS News Editor & Reporter

Sometime in July, CELS Biologist Cheryl Wilga may become a TV star-or at least one of her critters will.

Wilga spent a good chunk of Super Bowl Sunday in front of bright lights and video cameras but the session had nothing to do with the Patriots/Giants battle in Arizona.

Rather, Wilga was down at the Bay Campus where she spends a lot of her research time studying how sharks feed and in particular how their jaws work.

And that was why The History Channel sent down a video crew.

The History Channel is putting together a 13-part series that is tentatively called "Evolve," and the producers needed footage on the evolution of jaw mechanisms.

"They took footage of me answering questions in front of the Endeavor and the bridge at the graduate School of Oceanography," said Wilga. Inside, they shot more footage of a shark feeding in one of her flow tanks.

Kate Walker, an associate producer from Optomen Productions which is putting together the series for The History Channel, said the plan is to have a series start in June. The jaws episode will probably be aired in July.

"Each episode looks at a particular function, trait or body part," said Walker. "In addition to jaws, some of the other episodes will be on eyes, color, size, skin, the stomach and movement. We try to demonstrate the function and ferocity of these particularly eye-catching predators."

Wilga explained a shark's jaw protrusion in her episode.

After the shoot, Wilga returned home in time to catch the second half of the Super Bowl. "The last quarter was exciting but disappointing," she adds. Chances are when she sees herself on TV in July, that will be much more satisfying.

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