Baby Bull Sharks Thriving in Alabama Bays as the Coastline Continues to Warms

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(Alabama)- As climate change continues to impact ecosystems around the globe, the warming waters of the Gulf of Mexico are bringing notable changes to Alabama's coastal bays. A recent study by TAMU has highlighted a remarkable increase in the population of baby bull sharks in these areas.

Photo byFlickr

The Findings

Researchers from TAMU have discovered that the bays in Alabama are becoming nurseries for baby bull sharks. The warming temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico have created a more hospitable environment for these young sharks, allowing them to thrive in greater numbers.

Previous work shows that baby bull sharks will leave coastal nurseries in response to episodic cold snaps to avoid cold-stress. Sharks that didn’t leave died. The same may be true for hot temperatures, although conditions have not yet reached that point.

Why Alabama Bays?

Alabama's bays, with their shallow and warm waters, provide an ideal habitat for young bull sharks. These conditions offer plenty of food sources and fewer predators, making them perfect for the sharks' early development stages.

Photo byTAMU

All animals, including bull sharks, have maximum and minimum temperatures at which they can function. If temperatures get too hot or too cold, this can lead to problems, whether through direct stress on the shark’s bodily functions or on its ecosystem at large.

Nature News reports that an increasing population of baby bull sharks could have significant implications for Alabama's marine ecosystems. As top predators, bull sharks play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine life.

More bull sharks could eventually mean fewer of the fish that humans rely on. In warmer water, sharks burn more energy which requires more food.

Additional Quick Facts About Baby Bull Sharks

• Average weight: 200 to 500 pounds.
• Average life span: 16 years
• Average size: 7 to 11.5 feet

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