Tiger sharks helped discover the world’s largest seagrass prairie

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/tiger-sharks-discover-worlds-largest-seagrass-prairie


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Seagrasses can sequester carbon for millennia at rates 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. The newly mapped sea prairie may store 630 million metric tons of carbon, or about a quarter of the carbon trapped by seagrasses worldwide, the team estimates.

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This is most interesting, to say the least; I was not at all aware of this.

One of the reasons I find this most fascinating is that we are seeing another side of sharks that we seldom see or hear about.

Sadly, the past few years, due in part to climate change, global warming, and warmer waters, we have seen a sharp increase in shark attacks.

Seagrasses, seaweeds, coral, and other underwater marine plant life is something else that far too many take for granted.

Look at the ever-shrinking Everglades.

Most assuredly, the increase in climate change over time will further affect the seas, and not in a positive way.

Marine life (in many forms), fish, marine mammals, etc., I personally feel are far more intelligent than the majority of "landlubbers" give them credit for.......

"Live long and prosper"

 

We certainly don't deserve the beauty of the ocean and we sure poisoned that.

 

For too many decades now, no one thought of pollution "affecting" the oceans.

Not only that, but look at how global warming has so greatly affected marine life, during the past decade alone.

Look at how many once-spectacular reefs are now barren of any sort of marine plant life.

Again, look at the Everglades.

Too, the oceans have always had many mysteries, regarding the teeming life beneath the waters.

I still clearly remember, during the summer of 1985, where (New York Bay) , in the area where Staten Island ferryboats were docked between runs at St. George, the water was a vast carpet of red........THOUSANDS of jellyfish!

I had NEVER seen anything like this, before.

Remember, too, it was not until the later 1960's, when people started to become more aware of what we were doing to the air, the water, the enviorment.

Even then, there was so much damage........can we learn from our mistakes?

We can only hope.......

"Live long and prosper"

 

I will believe we can learn from our mistakes if we all unite in to a single colony that could make insects envious. Perhaps this even happens all over the universe.

 

Star Trek 4:The Voyage Home ought to be a post revelation bible story.

 

Agreed, 100%.

I could not agree more.

Regarding sharks, I always thought that an abundance of marine life (of any sort) meant a "healthier"ocean.

Now, we see certain species of fish migrating far beyond their normal range, seeking out more hospitable water temperatures.

Interesting to note, too, that the much-cleaner waters of the Hudson River have come at a price; certain "marine pests", which thrive in cleaner waters, have been attacking the piles of many docks in the area.

When the river was still quite polluted, such a problem did not exist.......

"Live long and prosper"

 

Reminded me of a scene in some cartoon show I once watched.​

 

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Funny.....and, yet FRIGHTENING at the same time!!!!!!!!

"Live long and prosper"

 

During my 66 years, I have never lived further than a 15 minute walk (even closer now) to viewing the Hudson and the skyline (Riverside Church, Grant's Tomb, and the Soldiers & Sailors Monument are my especial favorites.

Long ago, I read that Henry Hudson himself described the Hudson (for many, many years, and into the 20th century, referred to as the "North River") as being: "pure, clean, and sweet to the taste".

Now THAT was a LONG time ago, to be sure!

I have also heard that, over the past several decades, much silt has been deposited on the river bed, due to the sharp drop in harbor traffic (recall, the Hudson was once crisscrossed by ferries, and populated by floitillas of tugs, excursion boats, and freighters)

Interesting, too, to think of the dolphins that have often been sighted in harbor waters, over the past several years!

"Live long and prosper"

 

I know it's not fair to keep wildlife but I would choose a dolphin if I could. They are so clever.

 

As a DEDICATED viewer of "Flipper" each week, back in the 1960's, I could not agree more; their cleverness is indeed QUITE astounding, to say the least!

I've also long thought of dolphins as one of the most endearing (if not the most endearing) of all sea mammals (OK, I DO love seals and sea lions, too!)

"Live long and prosper"

 

Indeed!

Recall, also, that most early seagoing steamships also carried sails; these were used during times when the winds were strong (to conserve coal), and, also, in case of engine malfunction.

Even by the 1890's, sailing ships were fast becoming a vanishing minority; there were, however, "sailing lighters" that, in some instances, even lasted into the early 20th century, in New York harbor........

"Live long and prosper"

 

Recall, back in 2020, a humpback was spotted off Pier 84, near the Intrepid and the Circle Line pier!

"Live long and prosper"

 

And, also, back in 2016.......recall there were several whale sightings in NY Harbor, from the vicinity of the Statue of Liberty, to north of the George Washington Bridge!

"Live long and prosper"