Thursday, February 6, 2025

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Sharks: The Ecosystem Engineers

Sharks are often unfairly cast as the villains of the sea, but their role in marine ecosystems is both complex and crucial. As apex predators, they play a vital role in maintaining the health and balance of our oceans.
Here are a few key facts about why sharks are considered “ecosystem engineers,” essential to the health of our reefs and climate, particularly in the Great Barrier Reef:
   • Sharks regulate reef ecosystems by controlling predator and prey populations. Without them, biodiversity and food chains collapse. The Great Barrier Reef relies on species like white-tip and black-tip sharks to maintain this balance.

   • Sharks control fish populations, promoting diversity and balancing the food web. Without them, overgrazing and over-predation would destabiliase reefs, encouraging algae and bacteria growth that corals can’t compete with.
Pretty jawesome huh?

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