Beds Of Sea Grasses Sharks And Rays

Chondrichthyans are one of the most at-risk class of major vertebrates on the planet Of the 1041 known species of Chondrichthyes sharks rays and chimaera more than 30 percent are endangered threatened vulnerable to extinction or near threatened.

Beds of sea grasses sharks and rays. Beds of sea grasses sharks and rays. We are emptying the ocean of sharks and rays. These rare and unobtrusive blue-grey sharks grow to less than one metre and their longevity is unknown.

As a result these rays have decimated seagrass beds and contributed to the collapse of the Scallops Argopecten irradians. Horizontal corals gorgonian corals and sea fans. Seagrass also known as eelgrass covers just 02 of the seabed yet it accounts for 10 of the oceans capacity to store carbon.

Of the 1000-plus known shark and ray species globally nearly one-quarter are classified as Threatened with Extinction. In truth it is not just sharks eating turtles that keeps the ecosystem in. Collins et al 2007.

This has been in response to a decline in populations of large sharks which normally prey on these rays. Healthy oceans undoubtedly depend on sharks. Off the coast of Florida Atlantic cownose rays are found in mixed schools with Brazilian cownose rays Dr.

Its waving fronds carpet the seafloor and shelter thousands of sea creatures. Found in shallow sandy bays on reef rubble around seagrass beds and on rocky reefs. If the seagrass beds are overgrazed the living thing hiding in them becomes visible and more vulnerable to predation.

Coral reefs are important. Sharks and rays play a vital role in the health of many marine habitats. When factors such as heat waves destroy seagrasses sharks become critical for ecosystem health.