10
Reasons to Celebrate Sharks, Not Fear Them
“...1. Since sharks are at the top of the
food chain, they help keep the ecosystem in balance by deliberately preying on
sick & weak fish. “Sharks groom many populations of marine life to the
right size so that those prey species don’t cause harm to the ecosystem by
becoming too populous,” notes Shark Savers, an international group advocating
for an end to the slaughter of sharks & manta rays.
2. By killing sick fish,
sharks also help stop the spread of disease that could devastate other species.
At the same time, they’re helping to strengthen the gene pools of those species...
3. Another way sharks help
keep the ecosystem in balance is by scaring away sea animals that overgraze on
vital seagrass beds...
4. Sharks protect coral
reefs by eating predatory fish, like groupers, that feed on herbivores. The
lack of herbivores allows destructive macroalgae to expand & impact the
survival of the reef system.
5. Sharks help clean the
oceans by eating dead animals & plants...
6. ...Sharks like to eat
their predators, which is helping to prevent shellfish from becoming extinct...sharks
are at the top of all the intricate food webs that make up the ocean ecosystem.
Scientists consider them to be a keystone species, meaning that if they were to
disappear, the entire ecosystem would collapse.
7. Sharks have very strong
immune systems & are resistant to many cancers... A recent study found
unique modifications in their immunity genes that may provide them with the
ability to fight cancer...
8. Sharks could also lead
the way to a cure for heart disease, thanks to anticoagulant compounds in their
blood that are currently being studied by scientists.
9. Sharks are able to swim
with speed & efficiency because of the denticles on their skin. These
small, toothlike structures reduce drag & turbulence as sharks move through
the water...
10. Sharks have been
around for at least 400 million years- 100 million years before dinosaurs first
appeared on land- & are the oldest living vertebrae. They can help us learn
more about the origin of humans & other vertebrate species.”
Laura Goldman
July 25/ 2017
care2.com
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