1. To what extent is the conservation of sharks important to marine ecosystems?
By Sam Wright

2. Choosing my title Relevant to degree course. Interesting. Substance.
Scientific.
Evaluative.

3. Research 16 resources used in total.
Libraries (Cardiff, Kingston, Sutton).
Web research.
Prior knowledge.
Dummy EPQ (coral reefs).

4. Aims of Project Achieve a high grade in EPQ. Further an interest.
Inspire a choice in Degree course and career.
Extend knowledge – Degree course.
Better organisational skills.

5. Initial Thoughts Happy with title. Hard Work. Similar to Dummy EPQ*.
Interesting project.

6. Research Questions Why are sharks important to marine ecosystems?
Why aren’t sharks important to marine ecosystems?

7. Why are sharks important to marine ecosystems?
Role as the top predator
Maintain energy flow of marine food chain.
Regulate populations of prey fish.
Smaller sharks allow a more productive reef system.
Slow reproductive rate.
Natural low abundance.

8. Why are sharks important to marine ecosystems?
Effects of removing sharks
Great Barrier Reef – Australia.
South Africa.
Tasmania – Australia.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography – University of California (Line Islands – Pacific Ocean).

9. Why are sharks important to marine ecosystems?
Large Sharks (Basking and Whale)
Plankton “soup”.
Regulate larvae growth to adulthood.
Don’t actively hunt prey.

10. Conservation Efforts
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) – IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.
CITES Appendix II – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

11. Why aren’t sharks important to marine ecosystems?
Replaced as the top predator
Killer whales (large, predatory sharks).
Barracuda, blue marlin, octopus, stingrays (small sharks).
Flaws
Killer whale global distribution.
No restrictions on population size.

12. Why aren’t sharks important to marine ecosystems?
Medicinal Uses
Human use in medicine considered more important.
“Squalene” oils.
Cholesterol reduction.
Operations.
Flaws
Sustainability?

13. Why aren’t sharks important to marine ecosystems?
Role of herbivores
Essential for reef productivity.
Can prosper without presence of predatory sharks.
Regulate algae populations – Biodiversity and Species Evenness.
Flaws
Far more productive reef with presence of both carnivorous and herbivorous.

14. Conclusion
Far more convincing to consider sharks as being important to marine ecosystems.
Therefore it is also extremely important to implement conservation programmes.

15. Achieved Aims? Good project? Further interest?
Inspire choice in degree course?
Better organisational skills?

16. What have I learnt from EPQ?
Importance of sharks to marine ecosystems.
Research required to produce an extended project.
How to manage time.
Organisational skills.
Importance of planning.
Hard work is worthwhile.

17. QUESTIONS?