A keystone species is a plant or animal that plays a major role in the way an ecosystem functions. Without these keystone species ecosystems would be extremely different or cease to exist altogether. All species in an ecosystem rely on each other and the contributions of a keystone species are larger compared to the other species' in the habitat.
A keystone species is often a predator, as predators can control the distribution and population of large numbers of prey. A single predator in an ecosystem can journey for hundreds of kilometres and the animals considered its prey in the ecosystem are partially controlled by the presence of this key stone species. Their feeding behaviour and habitats are largely a reaction to the key stone species…show more content… In 1984 they were declared critically endangered and deemed on the brink of extinction, the Grey Nurse Shark was first shark to be granted protection. As apex predators, they play an important role in maintaining a healthy balance in the Australian marine ecosystem. They do this by eating almost any kind of fish, crustacean, other sharks, rays, and squid. They remove the weak and sick animals which are situated lower than them on the food chain as well as keeping the balance with other ocean predators helping to ensure the survival of diverse species as well as maintaining the oceans health.
As Grey Nurse Sharks are predators, they are able to shift their prey’s habitats which changes the diets of other species. Through these spatial controls which the sharks have, they are indirectly able to maintain the seagrass and corals. The decline of these sharks has led to the decline in coral reefs and seagrass…show more content… This can be done for many reasons, one reason is that people are willing to pay large amounts of money for body part of a shark, especially a shark fin which can fetch a price of about $1000 in Sydney's or Melbourne's Chinatowns. The only way this could be improved is if people stop intentionally killing sharks, this could be prevented by the government having stricter laws on shark protection. Some ways to help increase the population of the sharks is by breeding more of them in captivity, and more research could be done about their breeding habits to improve
