[Thematic Report] [Marine Environment]by Jaewon Chang | 27-07-2020 22:05 |
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When reading through online articles about the "extinction of ____ species", readers often jump to conclusions, assuming that they no longer exist. However, I'll explain the concept of a functionally extinct species. In this case, the organism is simply not performing their role in the natural ecosystem. Recently, a study was conducted, wherein the magnitude of shark populations were investigated in reef habitats. It was found that sharks were rarely seen in 20 percent of the locations studied. The slow depreciation of the shark population is alarming, as this may disrupt the ecosystem in equilibrium. Sharks are normally considered the apex predator of the marine ecosystem, and thus regulate the population of latter species in the ecosystem. If sharks existed in lesser quantities, other predators would rise in number, and preys would ultimately face a problem of over-consumption. Though many other marine problems are present around the globe, identifying the overarching consequences of small changes can allow us to measure the severity of issues.
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