To what extent is the conservation of sharks important to marine ecosystems?

By Sam Wright

Choosing my title• Relevant to degree course.• Interesting.• Substance.• Scientific.• Evaluative.

Research

• 16 resources used in total.• Libraries (Cardiff, Kingston, Sutton).• Web research.• Prior knowledge.• Dummy EPQ (coral reefs).

Aims of Project

• Achieve a high grade in EPQ.• Further an interest.• Inspire a choice in Degree course and career.• Extend knowledge – Degree course.• Better organisational skills.

Initial Thoughts

• Happy with title.• Hard Work.• Similar to Dummy EPQ*.• Interesting project.

Research Questions

1. Why are sharks important to marine ecosystems?

2. Why aren’t sharks important to marine ecosystems?

Why are sharks important to marine ecosystems?

Role as the top predator• Maintain energy flow of marine food chain.• Regulate populations of prey fish.• Smaller sharks allow a more productive reef system.• Slow reproductive rate.• Natural low abundance.

Why are sharks important to marine ecosystems?

Effects of removing sharks• Great Barrier Reef – Australia.• South Africa.• Tasmania – Australia.• Scripps Institution of Oceanography – University of

California (Line Islands – Pacific Ocean).

Why are sharks important to marine ecosystems?

Large Sharks (Basking and Whale)• Plankton “soup”.• Regulate larvae growth to adulthood.• Don’t actively hunt prey.

Conservation Efforts

• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) – IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

• CITES Appendix II – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Why aren’t sharks important to marine ecosystems?

Replaced as the top predator• Killer whales (large, predatory sharks).• Barracuda, blue marlin, octopus, stingrays (small

sharks).Flaws• Killer whale global distribution.• No restrictions on population size.

Why aren’t sharks important to marine ecosystems?

Medicinal Uses• Human use in medicine considered more important.• “Squalene” oils.• Cholesterol reduction.• Operations.Flaws• Sustainability?

Why aren’t sharks important to marine ecosystems?

Role of herbivores• Essential for reef productivity.• Can prosper without presence of predatory sharks.• Regulate algae populations – Biodiversity and Species

Evenness.Flaws• Far more productive reef with

presence of both carnivorous and herbivorous.

Conclusion

• Far more convincing to consider sharks as being important to marine ecosystems.

• Therefore it is also extremely important to implement conservation programmes.

Achieved Aims?

• Good project?• Further interest?• Inspire choice in degree course?• Better organisational skills?

What have I learnt from EPQ?

• Importance of sharks to marine ecosystems.• Research required to produce an extended project.• How to manage time.• Organisational skills.• Importance of planning.• Hard work is worthwhile.

QUESTIONS?