Sharks are so much more than just great whites. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the dwarf lantern shark (only 8 inches long) to the whale shark (30+ feet). They live in nearly every marine ecosystem: the deep sea, shallow reefs, the arctic, tropics, and everything in between. Many sharks are apex predators, making them a keystone species and an indicator of ecosystem health. By controlling the food chain from the top, they maintain balance in everything below. Lots of sharks in an area is a sign that the ecosystem is probably thriving. Not every shark hunts big prey, however. Some, like the Indo-Pacific leopard shark, eat mostly shellfish. Others, like whale sharks, filter-feed on plankton, filling a similar role to baleen whales. Sharks have been on this planet for so long, they’re older than trees. Yet in just 50 years, we’ve driven a 70%+ decline in shark populations through bycatch, overfishing, and targeted killing. Photos by PaulNicklen, Mitty, & Mark Erdmann #OceanS...