On the 14th, satellite images showed that Kawachi, an underwater volcano in the Solomon Islands, became active once again. However, the most interesting thing in the eyes of science is the fact that sharks live around them. The matter came to light from footage released by NatGo a few years back and now it is gaining attention again.
precisely because of its prodigious population of hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna spp.) and silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), Kawachi became known as “Sharkcanoe”. Since its discovery in 1939, the volcano has experienced approximately 36 eruption periods. But how is it possible that sharks can live in such an environment?
in an interview with New York PostCady Benis, a researcher with the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program, said this is not as unusual as one might think. Even in the case of the surface, there are humans who live in cities built around volcanoes. “So it’s completely normal to have sharks and other marine life around underwater volcanoes, because it also contributes to the ecosystem,” he explained.
Nevertheless, scientists are still trying to understand what makes sharks physically fit to live in such hot and acidic conditions. The theory is that these species evolved to the point of being adapted to survive in this environment, but to further understand this behavior, it will be necessary to analyze them in future research.
Source: canaltec
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