Sharks and rays benefit from global warming, but not from CO2 in the Oceans

Sharks and rays benefit from global warming, but not from CO2 in the Oceans

Sharks and rays have populated the world's oceans for around 450 million years, but more than a third of the species living today are severely threatened by overfishing and the loss of their habitat. Palaeobiologists have now investigated whether and how global warming influences the diversity of sharks based on climate fluctuations between 200 and 66 million years ago. According to the study, higher temperatures and more shallow water areas hav…

Global Warming Benefits Sharks and Rays, While Oceanic CO2 Poses Challenges

Sharks and rays, remarkable cartilaginous fish that have graced our oceans for approximately 450 million years, are currently facing a critical existential crisis. Recent research spearheaded by palaeobiologist Manuel A. Staggl from the University of Vienna has revealed alarming insights into how both historical climate fluctuations and modern global warming are affecting the diversity and survival of these species. Their findings underline the …

Global warming offers mixed blessings for ancient ocean predators, paleobiologists suggest

Sharks and rays have populated the world's oceans for around 450 million years, but more than a third of the species living today are severely threatened by overfishing and the loss of their habitat.

In the 450 million years that sharks and rays have populated the oceans, they have repeatedly benefited from higher temperatures. But global warming is currently affecting animals that are in any case threatened by overfishing and habitat loss: Because the change is happening too quickly, it is unlikely that they will benefit from the new environmental conditions, according to Viennese paleobiologists and colleagues in the journal “Biology.” The…

Sharks and rays benefit from global warming - but not from CO2 in the Oceans

30.01.2025 - Even positive effects do not compensate for the complex dangers of climate change doi.org/10.3390/biology14020142