"To state something very obvious, sharks are dangerous. Much of that danger has to do with their teeth - both in terms of how sharp they are and how many of them they have. (In some cases, they can be measured in the hundreds. Yikes.) But just like basically anyone or anything with teeth, just having teeth isn't enough - they also have to be in good condition. And certain environmental factors are at play that could make sharks a bit less fearsome."
"What did they learn? That oceans becoming more acidic could result in "visible corrosion on the crown, degradation of root structures, and loss of fine serration details." In other words, sharks' status of being apex predators could take a hit if their teeth degrade. The paper's authors point to a future of "changes in foraging efficiency, energy uptake, and ultimately elasmobranch fitness.""
"In an article for the Associated Press on the study's findings, Patrick Whittle cites research pointing to "the burning of coal, oil and gas" as factors that are making the planet's oceans more acidic. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also shows that, since the Industrial Revolution began, oceans have grown more acidic.The study's lead author, Maximilian Baum, expressed concern about the implications of these findings."
Ocean acidification causes visible corrosion on tooth crowns, degradation of root structures, and loss of fine serration details in sharks. Such dental degradation can reduce foraging efficiency and energy uptake, undermining shark fitness and apex predator status. Burning of coal, oil, and gas is increasing ocean acidity, contributing to these corrosive conditions. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data indicate oceans have become more acidic since the Industrial Revolution. Reduced tooth integrity could alter shark feeding mechanics, prey selection, and ecological roles, with cascading effects on marine population dynamics and ecosystem balance.
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