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role in Environment
role in Environment
The Great Hammerhead plays a crucial role in its environment being considered a 'shark predator' and top of the food chain. They are considered apex predators (consumers).
Apex predators hold the top rank in a plant-herbivore-carnivore food chain and the uppermost position of an ecosystems trophic levels.
Great Hammerheads are keystone species.
Keystone species are organisms that help define an entire ecosystem. Without them, the involved ecosystem will change drastically.
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Favorite Food: Stingrays
Being their favorite meal, these sharks do not seem to be harmed by the barbs of the stingrays.
They may also consume other sharks, including other hammerhead sharks, bony fish, including groupers and sea catfish, squid and bottom dwelling crustaceans.
Great hammerheads, as well as other apex predators, also ensure that diseased and injured individuals from their ecosystems are removed. This helps keep the ecosystem healthy.
References:
Bonnethead. (2023, January 16). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BonnetheadCommon starfish. (2022, December 06). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_starfishGreat White Shark. (2023, January 20). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_white_shark#:~:text=10%20External%20links-,Taxonomy,the%20order%20of%20mackerel%20sharks.Integrated Taxonomic Information System - Report. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=6562#nullLitopenaeus Setiferus. (2021, April 28). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litopenaeus_setiferusMacrocystis pyrifera. (2023, January 04). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrocystis_pyriferaPelagibacterales. (2022, November 09). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PelagibacteralesPelican. (2022, November 29). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PelicanSea otter. (2023, January 20). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_otterTiger shark. (2023, January 18). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_sharkApex Predator. (n.d.). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/science/apex-predatorGreat hammerhead shark is top of the Food Chain – New Study. (2019, November 21). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.newcastle.edu.au/newsroom/featured/great-hammerhead-shark-is-top-of-the-food-chain-new-studyGreat Hammerhead Shark. (2022, October 06). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/animal/great-hammerhead-shark/#:~:text=Diet%20consists%20primarily%20of%20stingrays,hammer%20and%20biting%20pieces%20off.Great Hammerhead Sharks - marinebio conservation society. (2022, December 28). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.marinebio.org/species/great-hammerhead-sharks/sphyrna-mokarran/
Bonnethead. (2023, January 16). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BonnetheadCommon starfish. (2022, December 06). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_starfishGreat White Shark. (2023, January 20). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_white_shark#:~:text=10%20External%20links-,Taxonomy,the%20order%20of%20mackerel%20sharks.Integrated Taxonomic Information System - Report. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=6562#nullLitopenaeus Setiferus. (2021, April 28). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litopenaeus_setiferusMacrocystis pyrifera. (2023, January 04). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrocystis_pyriferaPelagibacterales. (2022, November 09). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PelagibacteralesPelican. (2022, November 29). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PelicanSea otter. (2023, January 20). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_otterTiger shark. (2023, January 18). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_sharkApex Predator. (n.d.). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/science/apex-predatorGreat hammerhead shark is top of the Food Chain – New Study. (2019, November 21). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.newcastle.edu.au/newsroom/featured/great-hammerhead-shark-is-top-of-the-food-chain-new-studyGreat Hammerhead Shark. (2022, October 06). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/animal/great-hammerhead-shark/#:~:text=Diet%20consists%20primarily%20of%20stingrays,hammer%20and%20biting%20pieces%20off.Great Hammerhead Sharks - marinebio conservation society. (2022, December 28). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.marinebio.org/species/great-hammerhead-sharks/sphyrna-mokarran/
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