Filter Feeders

Whale sharks are the ocean’s largest fish, yet they are still endangered despite their size. Humanity’s affects on the whale shark population eventually cascade, having a critical affect on all other species and a single human behavior such as irresponsible plastic use or oil drilling can have a vast impact on the overall ecosystem. Whale sharks positively benefit the health of the ocean by cleaning the ocean of plankton. Generally, whale sharks are primarily endangered due to humanity’s greed, misconception of ethics, and failure to apprehend that whale sharks are a crucial factor to Earth’s hydrosphere as filter feeders. Whale sharks could desist extinction if humans were to refrain from perturbing their habitats and placing them in captivity.
Whale sharks can be up to 12 meters long, comparable to the length of the average school bus. Fundamentally, whale sharks are the largest fish, weighing over 18.5 metric tons. The species diet consists of mainly plankton and the occasional small fish and squid. Since whale sharks are responsible for the consumption of plankton, they are considered filter feeders. The species is known to inhabit the open ocean, closer to coastal areas in tropical regions around 30°C. The filter feeders can have up to 300 fetuses. However, they …show more content…
The microplastics are monumentally harmful to their bodies. Plastic has been incorporated into their food cycle and throughout the water. Many health concerns including reproductive functions, growth and development, and hormones, are majorly affected by the waste found in their ecosystem. Considering that whale sharks do not start their reproducing until they reach thirty years of age, plastic is very damaging to their poplulation. The toxins threaten their lifestyles and their status, leading to endangerment. Ultimately, whale sharks are prone to death because of humanity’s preconceived habits of waste production and