What would happen to the ocean ecosystem if sharks went extinct?

1. 0

   mariexotoniposted 11 years ago

   What would happen to the ocean ecosystem  if sharks went extinct?
   
   I don't know much about marine animals or the ocean

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2. 79

   pippapposted 11 years ago

   If sharks were to become extinct the entire marine ecosystem could collapse.  Sharks are responsible for eating many prey fish such as sardines, young fish, etc.  Without the number of these prey fish being kept in check, they in turn would decimate the populations of fish that are their prey.  And it would continue down the line until even the plankton, krill, algael food and every other subsistence species was wiped out.
   
   The inequality of predator to prey would destroy the system as we know it now.  What would or could take its place is unknown.

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3. 59

   Insane Mundaneposted 11 years ago

   Keeping up the shark population is a big deal...  Sharks going extinct would impact the ocean greatly and would be like like a big aquarium loosing its main scavengers that help regulate and keep the water clean.  Plus, with sharks being on top of the food chain, it would definitely impact other populations and would cause problems with their decline in numbers.  For example, In Australia, one lobster fishery is threatened because the declining number of sharks cannot control the lobster eating octopuses.
   Personally, I wish people would leave the sharks alone...  Perhaps some of those rich gluts can find something else to eat besides shark fin soup?

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4. 95

   watergeekposted 10 years ago

   Explore what life is like for mermaids to live in the oceans of today, if mermaids do exist - what they eat, and where they live and play. read more

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