Sharks and Their Essential Roles in Coral Reefs
Overview of various Pacific coral reef sharks, notably the blacktip reef shark, gray reef shark, and nurse shark.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
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Transcript
The islands of the South Pacific - what looks like a terrain of flat palm-treed sand islands, is transformed into a dramatic mountain landscape complete with valleys, cliffs and steep slopes below the surface. These ring-shaped archipelagos are coral reefs surrounding ancient volcanoes that vanished beneath the waves thousands of years ago. The islands topping the reefs surround a relatively shallow lagoon. There are openings connecting the lagoon with the open sea. Outside, the mountain quickly plunges into great depths. This versatile underwater landscape offers the bigger predators of the tropical seas the opportunity to specialise. While the juveniles of various shark species grow up in the sheltered lagoon, smallish species of shark populate the channels leading to the open sea.
Black tip reef sharks populate shallow areas. They are among the most numerous sharks found around coral reefs. At two meters in length, they are no threat for humans, and are named for the distinctive marks on their back fins. Black tip reef sharks feed on smaller fish that populate the coral reef, like small rays, crabs and lobsters.
Grey reef sharks are found in the deeper parts of the reef-channels. They are bigger than the black tips and are often found in schools, hovering calmly in the currents. Like all sharks, they lack a swim-bladder, so without movement, they would sink. The currents found in the reef channels allow them to stay still and avoid sinking with only minimal effort. At the same time, they let the water wash through their gills. Big groups of these sharks offer imposing views, but don’t pose any danger to humans. They hunt primarily at night and live of a wide spectrum of small fish and crustaceans.
Nurse sharks prefer to stay in hideouts. During the day the often rest in caves and don’t like to be disturbed. The barbels found around their mouths carry tasting cells that aid them in tracking down hidden prey. And even though they can reach lengths of over three meters, they are classed as harmless to humans. At night, nurse sharks scour the reef for sleeping prey. When they find something, the suck out the prey hiding in cracks and crevices. The ecological balance of the coral reef depends on the sharks. And for that, humans ought to pay them respect not out of fear.
Black tip reef sharks populate shallow areas. They are among the most numerous sharks found around coral reefs. At two meters in length, they are no threat for humans, and are named for the distinctive marks on their back fins. Black tip reef sharks feed on smaller fish that populate the coral reef, like small rays, crabs and lobsters.
Grey reef sharks are found in the deeper parts of the reef-channels. They are bigger than the black tips and are often found in schools, hovering calmly in the currents. Like all sharks, they lack a swim-bladder, so without movement, they would sink. The currents found in the reef channels allow them to stay still and avoid sinking with only minimal effort. At the same time, they let the water wash through their gills. Big groups of these sharks offer imposing views, but don’t pose any danger to humans. They hunt primarily at night and live of a wide spectrum of small fish and crustaceans.
Nurse sharks prefer to stay in hideouts. During the day the often rest in caves and don’t like to be disturbed. The barbels found around their mouths carry tasting cells that aid them in tracking down hidden prey. And even though they can reach lengths of over three meters, they are classed as harmless to humans. At night, nurse sharks scour the reef for sleeping prey. When they find something, the suck out the prey hiding in cracks and crevices. The ecological balance of the coral reef depends on the sharks. And for that, humans ought to pay them respect not out of fear.
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