How do you make a shark mate? Play it Justin Timberlake

German scientists say sharks, long considered as just aquatic killing machines, apparently have feelings too and are more likely to mate if the right music is played to them.

James Last, Justin Timberlake and Salt-N-Pepa are among the artists who get the sharks in the mood for love beneath the waves but Britney Spears left them cold.

The experiment, conducted by 10 Sea Life centres in Germany was launched because of a slowdown in the breeding of captive sharks in the country.

The aquariums mostly have sharks under 10 years old and so role models to show them how to mate are in short supply. Experts say they need older sharks to learn from or some artificial method of stirring their libidos such as hormone scent in the water.

The idea to try to get them to respond to music came about because of the results of tests six years ago by researchers at the Rowland Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who found that fish processed music in a similar way to humans and can even appreciate different tunes and melodies.

For the study, each Sea Life Centre played two hours of music a day. Each site played a different title, from classic to rock to hip-hop. Visitors and Sea Life staff were asked to watch the behaviour of the sharks.

In Konstanz and Dresden, visitors watched the typical courtship behaviour of sharks. The creatures followed and bit each other in their fins. At the Timmendorfer Strand aquarium, it looked as if the sharks were dancing to the rhythm of the music. Jens Hirzig, display supervisor at Sea Life Timmendorf, said: "The creatures swam around each other and it seemed that they were dancing with each other while listening to Joe Cocker.

He added: "But what surprises us especially was that we discovered 50 eggs. This makes us very happy." At Sea Life Munich, the sharks did not show any reaction to Britney Spears, although staff reported that there seemed to be an increase among cuddles shared by teenage visitors.

"The study gives us and scientists the chance to investigate how much influence music can really have on sharks and their mating behaviour," says Mr Hirzig.

Sea Life in Blackpool co-ordinated the German project, which lasted for two hours a day over a four-week period. Overall, the tunes seem to have had the desired effect.

Music is the food of love

Salt-N-Pepa Push It

The sharks in Speyer loved the song and 50 eggs of the cat sharks and dogfish have been seen.

Joe Cocker You Can Leave Your Hat On

A success in Timmendorf with 50 eggs of dogfish and hammerhead sharks.

James Last Traumschiff

Cat sharks in Dresden "got in the mood" and pursued females but there is no evidence of pregnancies yet.

Justin Timberlake Rock Your Body

Zebra sharks in Konstanz were seen to be "courting each other heavily".

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