WHY THE OCEAN

MATTERS
BY: ISAAC COX

FACTS ABOUT THE OCEAN

-

THE OCEANS COVER 72% OF OUR PLANET

THE LARGEST MOUNTAIN RANGES LIE BENEATH THE OCEAN
THE DEEPEST CANYONS ARE BENEATH THE SEA
12% OF THE LAND ON PLANET EARTH IS PROTECTED BY
ORGANIZATIONS, WHILE LESS THAN 2% OF THE OCEAN, IS
PROTECTED
- THE EARTH HAS LOST 90% OF THE BIG FISH IN THE SEA
- 20% OF CORAL REEFS ARE GONE (HOME TO MUCH BIODIVERSITY)

WHY DOES THE OCEAN MATTER?

OXYGEN
-

THE OCEAN GIVES US MORE THAN HALF OF THE OXYGEN WE

BREATH
The ocean produces oxygen through the plants (phytoplankton, kelp, and
algal plankton) that live in it. These plants produce oxygen as a byproduct
of photosynthesis - a process which converts carbon dioxide and sunlight
into sugars the organism can use for energy.

Climate Regulation
The worlds ocean is crucial to heating the planet. While land areas and the
atmosphere absorb some sunlight, the majority of the suns radiation is
absorbed by the ocean. Particularly in the tropical waters around the equator,
the ocean acts a as massive, heat-retaining solar panel. Earths atmosphere
also plays a part in this process, helping to retain heat that would otherwise
quickly radiate into space after sunset

SHARKS

SHARKS
-SHARKS HAVE BEEN IN OUR OCEANS FOR OVER 400 MILLION YEARS.
-SCIENTISTS HAVE ESTIMATED THAT OVER 100 MILLION SHARKS ARE
KILLED A YEAR. AS A RESULT, SHARKS ARE BEING FISHED OUT, FASTER
THAN THEY CAN NATURALLY RECOVER

Extinction
Human beings are currently causing the greatest mass extinction of species since the extinction of
the dinosaurs 65 million years ago at rates 1000 to 10,000 times faster than normal. The 2012
update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species shows that of the 63,837 species examined
worldwide, 19,817 are threatened with extinction - nearly a third of the total. If present trends
continue, scientists warn that within a few decades, at least half of all plant and animal species on
Earth will be extinct, as a result of climate change, habitat loss, pollution, acidifying oceans, invasive
species, overexploitation of natural resources, overfishing, poaching and human overpopulation.

Sharks
Sharks play a very important role in the oceans in a way
that an average fish does not. Sharks are at the top of
the food chain in virtually every part of every ocean. In
that role, they keep populations of other fish healthy and
in proper proportion for their ecosystem.

SHARKS KEEP THE ECOSYSTEM HEALTHY

Predatory sharks prey on the sick and the weak members of their prey
populations, and some also scavenge the seafloor to feed on dead carcasses.
By removing the sick and the weak, they prevent the spread of disease and
prevent outbreaks that could be devastating. Preying on the weakest
individuals also strengthens the gene pools of the prey species. Since the
largest, strongest, and healthiest fish generally reproduce in greater
numbers, the outcome is larger numbers of healthier fish.

KEEP GRASS AND SEABEDS HEALTHY

Through intimidation, sharks regulate the behavior of prey species, and
prevent them from overgrazing vital habitats. Some shark scientists believe
that this intimidation factor may actually have more of an impact on the
ecosystem than what sharks eat. For example, scientists in Hawaii found that
tiger sharks had a positive impact on the health of sea grass beds. Turtles,
which are the tiger sharks prey, graze on sea grass. In the absence of tiger
sharks, the turtles spent all of their time grazing on the best quality, most
nutritious sea grass, and these habitats were soon destroyed. When tiger
sharks are in the area, however, turtles graze over a broader area and do not
overgraze one region.

problem of the shark's prey overpopulating

-Sharks are the top of the food chain in the ocean, and they have adapted over millions
of years to have big, sharp teeth, and large bodies, and strong fins, to be the top
predator. Their prey did not adapt to be the top predator, so they could not keep the
ecosystem in line, like the sharks do. They would not keep the coral reefs or the other
fish healthy.