Here is another page in our keystone species series, this time about sharks. I've seen a lot of headlines lately about sharks being mistreated and misunderstood. But did you know that they are critical to nearly the entire marine ecosystem? They are also disappearing at alarming rates.
As we explained in our introductory article about keystone species, this term refers to species that play critical roles in an ecosystem. If they are removed, the entire ecosystem is significantly impacted .. and almost always in a negative way.
It has all been just a misunderstanding
When you think of sharks, it is likely the Jaws theme-song pops into your head. I never even saw the movie, but just remembering the buzz about it as a kid made me afraid to go swimming in the ocean. Peter Benchley, the author of the book which inspired the movie, said he regretted painting sharks in such a negative light. He later understood how important they are to the entire planet and became an advocate on their behalf.
An average of six humans per YEAR are killed by sharks out of less than 150 total incidents involving attack. Humans are not on the menu for sharks, when they do attack it is out of self-defense (actual or perceived) or mistaken identity (human in a wetsuit with flippers can look a lot like a seal!). "Cows, horses, bees, dogs, alligators, snakes and many more creatures are responsible for more deaths per year than sharks," reported the U.K.'s Metro newspaper in 2018.
Humans kill a MINIMUM of 100,000,000 sharks every year. This is considered a very conservative estimate, with other estimates being closer to 300,000,000 (that's MILLION .. per YEAR). Many of these are caught and have their fins sliced off while still alive, only to be tossed back into the ocean to bleed to death. All to make some soup or some unproven medicine.
What those people/monsters don't realize is that they aren't just making soup, they are endangering the entire marine ecosystem, which we are reliant upon in many ways. No soup is worth that.
Behind the Scene s
I've continued my journey to learn how to use digital tools for graphics. I started with hand-drawn and written drafts, scanned them in, cleaned them up and colored them digitally. It certainly isn't faster or easier than using a paintbrush, but I do like the vivid colors it produces. It is also less messy on my desktop than paint and water. I will continue to switch back and forth between mediums as I enjoy boy tremendously.
References
- Dowling, D. (2014, August 15). How the Creator of “Jaws” Became the Shark’s Greatest Defender. Narratively; Narratively. https://narratively.com/how-the-creator-of-jaws-became-the-sharks-greatest-defender/
- Haigh, P. (2018, August 7). How many sharks are killed each year and how many humans are killed by sharks? Metro; Metro.co.uk. https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/07/many-sharks-killed-year-many-humans-killed-sharks-7808952
- Smit, J. (2011). The Importance of Sharks. White Shark Projects. https://www.whitesharkprojects.co.za/news/the-importance-of-sharks
- Keystone Species - Sharks. (2021). Exploringnature.org. https://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/Keystone-Species-Sharks
- Why are sharks important? (2020, November 11). Save Our Seas Foundation. https://saveourseas.com/why-are-sharks-important/
Related Activities
- Wyland's FREE painting lesson on Great White Sharks! https://wylandfoundation.org/product/great-white-shark-wylands-painting-lesson-free-download/
- Wyland Foundation's FREE shark coloring page https://wylandfoundation.org/product/great-white-shark-a-giant-predator-free-download/
Supplies
These are the supplies I use and recommend from my
experience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
- Strathmore Vision Mixed Media Pad
- Westcott Grid Ruler
- Zebra Zensations Brush Pen, Super Fine
- Pentel Pocket Brush Limited Edition (Black Ink)
- Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen (White)
- Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser
- Computer & photo editor
Links on Socials
- Facebook Post
- Instagram Post