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https://theconversation.com/the-secret-lives-of-silky-sharks-unveiling-their-whereabouts-supports-their-protection-209333>
"Open ocean sharks are elusive and mysterious. They undertake vast journeys
that span hundreds to thousands of kilometres across immense ocean basins. We
know very little about the secret lives of ocean sharks, where they live and
why they are there.
What we do know is sharks are immensely important to the natural systems in
which they live. Over 450 million years of evolution have perfected their role
as apex predators and they play vital roles in fish community regulation and
nutrient cycling. Healthy ecosystems rely on healthy shark populations.
Sharks, numbering more than 500 species, are also among the most threatened
groups of vertebrates (animals with backbones). After surviving five mass
extinctions through geological time, sharks are now facing the greatest threat
to their survival from industrial fishing.
Their elusive nature and the immensity of our oceans means sharks are difficult
to study. Our limited knowledge is particularly problematic given their
threatened status. A solid understanding of the distribution of oceanic sharks
is fundamental to their protection and our new research provides valuable
insights into the secret lives of these wide-ranging predators."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
