Exploring the Earth's marine areas poses logistical challenges to us humans. Luckily, we are not the only creatures on this planet. Animals live here, too! And they can help us discover new things here on Earth.
Researchers collaborated with tiger sharks to map the seagrass bed in the Little and Great Banks in the Bahamas. Yup. You read that right. They enlisted the help of tiger sharks, the "largest apex predator in tropical seas."
Researchers attached cameras to the dorsal fins of seven mature female tiger sharks. Combined with the efforts of human surveyors, the unusual team was able to map out the seagrass meadow, which is said to measure anywhere between 62,000 to 92,000 square kilometers. Researchers say that this is the largest seagrass meadow in the world.
But why tiger sharks, you may ask? That's because they have a "strong affinity to seagrass habitat" and are "well-suited for carrying research equipment for days at a time," says study co-author Austin Gallagher. Gallagher is also the CEO of Beneath The Waves, an organization advocating for ocean health and focused on shark conservation and marine protected areas.
Seagrass beds are essential for many reasons. For one, they provide food and habitat for marine organisms. Seagrass beds also maintain water quality. Last but not least, seagrass beds can absorb about 17% of the ocean's carbon annually, making them a crucial agent against climate change.
Gallagher notes that this research demonstrates that we still have a lot to learn about our planet's ocean. He hopes to conduct further research about this "to support the protections of this crucial habitat."
(Image Credit: Austin Gallagher)