Sharks abandon coral reef home as climate crisis heats oceans: study

As oceans warm due to climate change, sharks are leaving their coral reef homes, endangering both their survival and the delicate reef ecosystems. Researchers tracked over 120 grey reef sharks in the Chagos archipelago from 2013 to 2020, finding that during ocean-warming events, such as El Niño, sharks spent less time on stressed reefs. Some moved to deeper, cooler waters. Coral reefs, already threatened by overfishing and pollution, rely on sharks to maintain ecological balance. The study suggests protecting reefs from human damage may help sharks stay, but the trend highlights concerns for both species and the marine ecosystems. (The Guardian)