Great white sharks are overheating
Summary
Great white sharks and some other large fish keep their bodies warmer than the surrounding ocean water. As the oceans get warmer due to climate change, these animals risk overheating and having less food to eat because of overfishing. They may need to move to cooler waters, which could change ocean ecosystems.Key Facts
- Great white sharks and some tuna are "mesothermic," meaning their bodies stay warmer than the water.
- These fish use more energy to maintain their body temperature, which makes them vulnerable as oceans heat up.
- Warming oceans and less available food from overfishing create a double threat for them.
- Larger sharks generate body heat faster than they can release it, causing overheating risks.
- These sharks may have to slow down, change blood flow, or dive deeper to cooler water.
- Suitable habitats for these warm-bodied fish will shrink as ocean temperatures rise, especially in summer.
- These species are important predator fish that help keep ocean ecosystems balanced.
- Scientists used sensors to measure how much heat these fish produce and lose to understand their limits.
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