You could add to the list the selective logging of old growth trees as it changes the temperature profile, the humidity, the soil and the habitat zones in a forest. Australian scientists found shark varieties were one of the main predators on the sea urchin outbreaks decimating the kelp beds, Go the sharks :)
This is best kind of science writing - accessible, persuasive, and deeply relevant in the way it shows how our uninformed, arbitrary actions disrupt complex ecosystems.
Brilliant! Comparing the distance fish travel from reefs vs the presence of sharks and population # of crown of thrones starfish. Science at its best. Where the data reveals more than we knew. The sharks are not what they seem. Bravo.
As a member of the Shark Trust in the UK it is good to be reading a positive article about sharks. You rightly say all ecosystems really on each intricate part, take one away and the whole system is affected. Really enjoy reading your articles, great work.
Many thanks for posting. I had never heard of this before but I guess it makes sense - something similar happened with wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone, where the return of the predator alters the behaviour of the prey.
You could add to the list the selective logging of old growth trees as it changes the temperature profile, the humidity, the soil and the habitat zones in a forest. Australian scientists found shark varieties were one of the main predators on the sea urchin outbreaks decimating the kelp beds, Go the sharks :)
This is best kind of science writing - accessible, persuasive, and deeply relevant in the way it shows how our uninformed, arbitrary actions disrupt complex ecosystems.
I am not a scientist of any kind, but this beautifully written report helps me understand how interconnected we all are
In a similar way a researcher found where white-nose syndrome killed off bats human infant mortality increased. With fewer bats, bugs proliferated, including agricultural pests. Farmers compensated with more pesticides, and babies died. https://www.science.org/content/article/my-jaw-dropped-bat-loss-linked-death-human-infants
Brilliant! Comparing the distance fish travel from reefs vs the presence of sharks and population # of crown of thrones starfish. Science at its best. Where the data reveals more than we knew. The sharks are not what they seem. Bravo.
As a member of the Shark Trust in the UK it is good to be reading a positive article about sharks. You rightly say all ecosystems really on each intricate part, take one away and the whole system is affected. Really enjoy reading your articles, great work.
Great twist on the age old debate over ‘who would win out of shark vs starfish?’ debate…
Absolutely fascinating
Many thanks for posting. I had never heard of this before but I guess it makes sense - something similar happened with wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone, where the return of the predator alters the behaviour of the prey.