Evidence of cascading ecosystem effects following the loss of white sharks from False Bay, South Africa

Hammerschlag, Neil; Herskowitz, Yakira; Fallows, Chris; Couto, Thiago B. A.

doi:10.3389/fmars.2025.1530362

Evidence of cascading ecosystem effects following the loss of white sharks from False Bay, South Africa

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Hammerschlag, Neil, Herskowitz, Yakira, Fallows, Chris and Couto, Thiago B. A. (2025) Evidence of cascading ecosystem effects following the loss of white sharks from False Bay, South Africa. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12. ISSN 2296-7745

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Abstract

This study provides empirical evidence of a trophic cascade following the loss of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) from False Bay, South Africa. Arrow thickness represents the relative strength of top-down predation effects (thicker arrows indicate stronger effects, thinner arrows indicate weaker effects). Left Panel: Historically, white sharks occupied the apex of the food web, preying on Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) and both competing with and feeding on sevengill sharks (Notorynchus cepedianus). Seals primarily preyed on schooling fishes, while sevengill sharks primarily preyed on benthic sharks. Right Panel: Following the decline and eventual disappearance of white sharks from False Bay, both seals and sevengill sharks have increased in relative abundance, coinciding with declines in small fish that seals feed on and smaller sharks that sevengills prey upon. Illustration by Kelly Quinn / Canvas of the Wild. (Figure presented.)

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Data availability statement: The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation. Funding information: Funding for this project was provided in part by the Isermann Family Foundation.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	ecosystem function,predation,predation risk,sharks,trophic downgrading,oceanography,global and planetary change,aquatic science,water science and technology,environmental science (miscellaneous),ocean engineering ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1910
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	29 Sep 2025 11:30
Last Modified:	21 Oct 2025 22:31
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/100502
DOI:	10.3389/fmars.2025.1530362

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