Great White Sharks and Ecosystem Recovery

Great white sharks are repopulating, which is beneficial for the ecosystem. Cape Cod serves as a major aggregation site for these sharks, where they feed on gray seals. The gray seal population has recovered due to the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act. This recovery has made Cape Cod a prime location for studying shark populations, which have been increasing over the past four years, indicating ecological recovery.

Why is the resurgence of great white sharks considered beneficial for the ecosystem?

• They clean the ocean by eating waste.

• They attract more tourists to the area.

• They are a source of food for other marine animals.

• They help control the seal population.

What draws great white sharks to Cape Cod during the summer?

• The warm water temperatures.

• The abundance of gray seals.

• The presence of coral reefs.

• The lack of human activity.

What legislation helped the gray seal population recover?

• The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

• The Clean Water Act of 1972.

• The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

• The Endangered Species Act of 1973.

How has the increase in gray seals affected Cape Cod?

• It has resulted in more frequent shark attacks.

• It has caused a decline in fish populations.

• It has made Cape Cod a key site for studying great white sharks.

• It has led to a decrease in tourism.

What does the rising number of great white sharks indicate?

• An upward trend in ecological recovery.

• A decrease in marine biodiversity.

• An increase in ocean pollution.

• A decline in the seal population.