Sharks
Why is it important to save the sharks?
The shark is an apex predator of the marine ecosystem. In the marine ecosystem these predators are placed at the top of the food chain. Apex predators have a vital role in maintaining the health and balance of the ecosystems they dwell in. In addition to the previous statement if these top of the food chain predators were to be removed from their ecosystems, the health and balance of these ecosystems would become shattered and disturbed, with nobody to maintain the health and balance of the marine ecosystems how will the rest of the marine community strive to survive?
Another factor that comes into play is the fact that life on land depends on life underwater; in order to thrive. To go more into depth on that factor, the earth’s largest oxygen producer are the oceans. The oceans are a home for many species, but there are some species that have a larger impact human life than others. Phytoplanktons are single celled plant algae. They form the base of the food chain in the ocean. The phrase “big things come in small packages” can be easily applied to the niche that these plant algae have. The phytoplankton enable all living organisms to stay alive, they produce up to 80% of the oxygen we and other organisms breathe, they are also the largest consumers of carbon dioxide. If these tiny organisms cease to exist so would we.
Now trailing back to the sharks, the sharks are at the top of the food chain as predators so they control the prey population, which can have an effect on the food chain further below (phytoplankton). The sharks are major predators in the marine ecosystems and if these predators were to be extinct the prey population would be greatly affected causing the phytoplankton to also be affected and if these tiny organisms were to be affected in anyway so would we humans and any other organism.
How do you feel about shark fining? Support your statement with specific facts from shark water or the internet?
The shark is an apex predator of the marine ecosystem. In the marine ecosystem these predators are placed at the top of the food chain. Apex predators have a vital role in maintaining the health and balance of the ecosystems they dwell in. In addition to the previous statement if these top of the food chain predators were to be removed from their ecosystems, the health and balance of these ecosystems would become shattered and disturbed, with nobody to maintain the health and balance of the marine ecosystems how will the rest of the marine community strive to survive?
Another factor that comes into play is the fact that life on land depends on life underwater; in order to thrive. To go more into depth on that factor, the earth’s largest oxygen producer are the oceans. The oceans are a home for many species, but there are some species that have a larger impact human life than others. Phytoplanktons are single celled plant algae. They form the base of the food chain in the ocean. The phrase “big things come in small packages” can be easily applied to the niche that these plant algae have. The phytoplankton enable all living organisms to stay alive, they produce up to 80% of the oxygen we and other organisms breathe, they are also the largest consumers of carbon dioxide. If these tiny organisms cease to exist so would we.
Now trailing back to the sharks, the sharks are at the top of the food chain as predators so they control the prey population, which can have an effect on the food chain further below (phytoplankton). The sharks are major predators in the marine ecosystems and if these predators were to be extinct the prey population would be greatly affected causing the phytoplankton to also be affected and if these tiny organisms were to be affected in anyway so would we humans and any other organism.
How do you feel about shark fining? Support your statement with specific facts from shark water or the internet?