Ocean acidification and global warming impacts on sharks

Sharks have populated our oceans for millions of years, but in just a few decades a slew of anthropogenic pressures have caused shark populations around the world to significantly decline. Estimates of sharks killed each year through commercial and illegal shing range from 40 million to as many as 73 million. Habitat loss has also been found to be a significant threat to the survival of sharks. Now, there is growing concern over the impact that global warming and ocean acidification will have on these already vulnerable apex predators. Even though some species may possess adaptations, some recent studies have shown that an increase in ocean temperature and acidity can impact sharks’ survival by changing their predation behavior and other biological processes. This is of concern as sharks play a central role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems by controlling prey diversity and abundance. 

 

This news article was published in BioNews 28

BioNews is produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance and funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

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