The undersea mountains where sharks rule
4 days ago
- #ocean-conservation
- #sharks
- #marine-biology
- Seamounts are towering underwater mountains, often extinct volcanoes, that host diverse marine life, including many shark species.
- These underwater mountains act as biodiversity hotspots, supporting higher biomass and diversity of marine species compared to the surrounding ocean.
- Sharks and other top predators are particularly abundant around seamounts, possibly due to the unique magnetic signatures that may aid navigation.
- Two main theories explain why seamounts attract predators: the 'oasis hypothesis' (seamounts generate or concentrate energy) and the 'hub hypothesis' (seamounts serve as gathering spots).
- Seamounts influence ocean currents and nutrient upwelling, creating fertile conditions that support phytoplankton blooms and higher food chain levels.
- Some shark species, like silky sharks, use seamounts as 'service stations,' foraging in open waters but returning to seamounts to rest or socialize.
- Seamounts have a 'halo effect,' extending increased marine life up to 40km into surrounding waters, making them critical for conservation.
- Bottom trawling and overfishing pose severe threats to seamount ecosystems, with slow-growing species particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
- Conservation efforts, such as marine protected areas and fishing bans, are essential to preserving seamount biodiversity and shark populations.