Sharks, Biodiversity & Ecosystems Published on September 23, 2013 at 7:21 pm by Michael Schad Categorized under: Conservation White Tipe Shark-LanceJordan-1 Written By: Lorelei Owen @Lorel_EE “Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. “ We know that sharks are ‘fin-tastic’ and need to be protected. But do you know who they are in terms of the marine ecosystem? Let’s start with the fact that nature seeks equilibrium, balance. That’s when nature is happy – everything is in harmony. Quite literally, there’s a place for everything, so everything needs to be in its rightful place. Scientists refer to sharks as a ‘keystone’ species. No surprise, if you remove them, the ecosystem collapses. There are two ways main ways sharks help maintain the balance of our ocean, one is obvious, the other may surprise you. Sharks are the top of the heap in the big blue – quite literally. As the top predator in almost every part of the ocean, sharks are a vital component of the marine food chain, and are an intricate part of the ecosystem independency. Simply put, sharks keep other fish populations in balance. By preying on the old, sick and weak, they help keep other fish populations healthy (i.e. prevent the spread of disease and keep gene pools strong). Larger, stronger fish reproduce in greater numbers resulting in greater numbers of healthier fish. And by keeping their numbers down, sharks ensure that those prey species don’t in turn overpopulate and damage the ecosystem. In areas where shark numbers have been depleted, fish and shellfish species, like tuna and scallops, are vastly reduced. Every species has a role to play in the ecosystem balance – remove one, and balance is lost. No sharks, means too many other fish, which then eat themselves out of house and home. But it’s not just what sharks eat which helps a healthy marine ecosystem stay that way. Did you know that sharks are intimidating? Not just to beach goers who’ve seen ‘Jaws’ one too many times – but to other marine species? Scientists in Hawaii, studying the sea turtle populations, made some interesting observations. With Tiger Sharks present, the sea turtle populations, which eat sea grass, tend to graze over a broader area – staying in one place too long is bad for their health as the Tiger Sharks are on the prowl. Even though the sharks weren’t physically present all the time, the turtles continued to be wary and not linger. But when sharks were no longer in an area (as in GONE), the turtles would overgraze that area which led to the destruction of those sea grass habitats and the decline of the turtles themselves. So sharks impact other marine species not merely by eating them; they regulate their behaviors in a why which helps maintain a balanced ecosystem. Sharks have been a vital part of maintaining healthy marine ecosystems for around 450 million years. Unsustainable fishing practices, finning, sport hunting – all of these have resulted in declining shark populations around the world. Sharks are now facing extinction within the next few decades – which will result in the marine ecosystem missing a critical link in the chain. The ocean is the most important ecosystem on the planet – producing more oxygen than all the rain-forests combined, removing half of the atmosphere’s manmade carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas), and controlling our planet’s temperature and weather. Sharks are a critical component in that ecosystem – face it, we need sharks in the ocean. We who are part of #ToothDay know that sharks are beautiful animals. It’s up to us to help educate the rest of the population so we can help #SaveOurSharks Why We Need Sharks sharkangels.org/index.php/issues-facing-sharks/why-we-need-sharks The Role of Sharks in the Ecosystem mesa.edu.au/seaweek2005/pdf/infosheet04.pdf SHARKS: Predators with a Purpose oceanicresearch.org/education/wonders/sharks.html Predators as Prey: Why Healthy Oceans Need Sharksoceana.org/sites/default/files/o/fileadmin/oceana/uploads/Sharks/Predators_as_Prey_FINAL_FINAL.pdf Sharks’ Role in the Oceans (includes the Sharks Role Slideshow)https://sharksavers.org/en/education/the-value-of-sharks/sharks-role-in-the-ocean/
Posted on: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 06:11:38 +0000
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