Sharks by Cole Gritton https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc by Cole Gritton en-us 2019-03-18 03:59:11 UTC 2026-02-26 03:35:24 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Beartoy.png Introduction cgritton36 https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342235716 The shark is one of the most fascinating animals on the planet. Some love them, and some fear that a shark might take their life. Statistically speaking this is an outrageous fear, and sharks are much more docile and important than most might think. Sharks are keystone species in their communities and their bodies have great benefits as far as medicine is concerned. This includes cartilage that has beneficial properties and corneas that can be used in human eye surgery. ]]> 2019-03-18 04:09:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342235716 Classification cgritton36 https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342235792 Sharks are in the class Chondrichthyes, meaning they are cartilaginous fish (SharkSider). Other organisms in this class include the ray and skate. ]]> 2019-03-18 04:10:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342235792 Keystone Species cgritton36 https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342235946 Sharks are considered a keystone species because they keep the populations within their ecosystem in check. A study done in North Carolina did a great job illustrating how important sharks are to the ecosystem. This study showed that as shark populations decreased, the ray population beneath them was growing rapidly. As more and more rays were born, they ate all of the bay scallops and then left to find a new food source. This led to the closing of fisheries, as there were no more scallops to harvest (Oceana). ]]> 2019-03-18 04:11:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342235946 Cartilage as a Cancer Treatment? cgritton36 https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342236548 There are many claims out there that shark cartilage has properties that can slow the growth of cancer. The thinking behind this is that the cartilages proteins, glycoprotein and proteoglycan, fight cancer by slowing or stopping growth of blood vessels that tumors need (VeryWell). However, there have been no experiments that indicate that this claim has any truth to it. Despite the lack of evidence, shark cartilage is very popular in Asia. Shark fin soup is a delicacy over there and leads to a high demand for fins. This had led to a process called finning, where the sharks fin is cut off and the shark is thrown back into the ocean. This is a very inefficient and unethical process and it needs to stop. ]]> 2019-03-18 04:16:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342236548 Shark Corneas cgritton36 https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342237619 One of the most medically beneficial body parts sharks have to offer are their corneas. This is because they are very strong and have specialized fibers that act like rebar does in concrete (Sudbury). There have been several successful transplants in humans, and this is only the beginning. As technology advances we might be seeing a lot more shark to human cornea transplants. ]]> 2019-03-18 04:23:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342237619 Shark Attacks cgritton36 https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342238346 Shark attacks do occur, but they are extremely rare. Nobody should be scared of being attacked by a shark because it occurs so scarcely. There are a few tips to help avoid shark attacks though. It is recommended to not swim near river mouths or fishing boats, as these spots are prone to high shark population density (CNN Travel). If one is to encounter an attack, then reading the shark is very important. If it seems docile and unaware of you, then you should shrink yourself into a squatting or balled position. If it is attacking you must fight back. Make yourself as big and scary as possible and fight back aggressively and smartly.]]> 2019-03-18 04:28:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342238346 Conclusion cgritton36 https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342238813 To conclude, sharks are very important species that aren't as dangerous as people make them out to be. They are important keystone species within their ecosystem as they control population numbers of prey and also compete with other predators. Although their cartilage hasn't been shown to treat cancer, their corneas are very important is human cornea surgery. Attack numbers are extremely low so next time you find yourself nervous about sharks in the ocean, just relax and have a good time.]]> 2019-03-18 04:32:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342238813 References cgritton36 https://padlet.com/cgritton36/1qat0ulyfujc/wish/342239394 Rodgers, M. (n.d.). Information About Sharks And Exactly What They Are - Shark Sider.  Retrieved March 11, 2019, from https://www.sharksider.com/what-is-a-shark/
 
The Importance of Sharks. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2019, from https://eu.oceana.org/en/importance-sharks

Wong, C. (2019, February 9). The Benefits of Shark Cartilage. Retrieved March 11, 2019, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-shark-cartilage-89583

Lorrlab. (2012, August 16). Family Eye Care. Retrieved March 11, 2019, from http://www.sudburyeye.com/whos-got-shark-eyes/ 

How to Survive a Shark Attack. (2015, July 24). Retrieved March 11, 2019, from https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/shark-attack-how-to-survive/index.html
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