Marine predators such as sharks are vital to the health and function of the ocean. Many shark species are apex predators that play many key roles in ecosystem function and provide ecological, and economic services. A recent study estimated that only 1/3 of shark species are safe from population declines (Dulvy et al., 2014). Sharks play an important role in marine ecosystems and are vital for continual research for human advancements. More shark research and conservation efforts are still needed to help protect these valuable species. 

Control food webs

Sharks can impact food webs by feeding on prey species directly affecting populations, but can also alter the behavior of prey by posing a risk of predation. A trophic cascade can be the result of the loss of an apex predator which causes direct and indirect effects down the trophic levels of the food web (Heupel et al., 2014). Oceanic whitetips are considered pelagic apex predators feeding mostly on mesopredators (large teleost fish such as tuna, marlin, and cephalopods). If they were removed from the marine ecosystem this could impact many different areas of the food web. In the absence of apex predators large increase in prey species’ populations, is called a mesopredator release (Heithaus et al., 2008). This mesopredator release could impact the lower trophic level populations, and primary producers such as phytoplankton abundance, coral reefs, and seagrass beds.  Oceanic whitetips are an important part of the topical pelagic food web and their removal could have far-reaching impacts across the globe (Bornatowski et al., 2017).

Promoting a Healthier Prey Population

 Oceanic whitetips and other apex predators also help maintain a healthy population of commercially important fish by preying on the weak and sick fish creating a stronger population. Reducing population sizes also reduces the rate of disease transmission between prey. Commercial fisheries are vital to human food supply and income, predators are commonly seen as a threat to these fisheries despite helping to create healthier populations (Hammerschlag et al., 2019).

 Nutrient Cycling

An indirect effect of the absence of whitetips could be the reduction in nutrient cycling, oceanic whitetips are highly migratory this movement of nutrients by these sharks is important for moving nutrients from more productive areas of the ocean such as reef systems to less productive areas like the open ocean. Nutrients can also cycle through the ecosystem from trophic interactions. The marine environment is an important part of the carbon cycle, helping to store and sequester excess carbon from human emissions. This is done primarily through plant biomass and organic deposition. Apex predators can help balance food web interactions by preventing herbivores from consuming produce, this helps promote natural carbon sequestering which reduces the impacts of global emissions (Hammerschlag et al., 2019). 

 Bioengineering/Medical Research

 Sharks have long been known to have high immunity to infections and cancers, there is rarely a “sick” shark. This has led to the increase of shark products in medicine and supplements which do not affect human health. Shark fin soup is also believed to be a source of medicine and promote good health (Sadovy de Mitcheson et al., 2018). Sharks do have extensive immune systems and other biological characteristics that make them more valuable to humans. Sharks are becoming more widely studied for bioengineering technologies which are being implemented into new products. Sharks have also become of interest to biomedical research in looking for antimicrobial solutions (Ritchie et al., 2017).