%0 Journal Article
%T Ecological roles and importance of sharks in the Anthropocene Ocean.
%A Dedman S
%A Moxley JH
%A Papastamatiou YP
%A Braccini M
%A Caselle JE
%A Chapman DD
%A Cinner JE
%A Dillon EM
%A Dulvy NK
%A Dunn RE
%A Espinoza M
%A Harborne AR
%A Harvey ES
%A Heupel MR
%A Huveneers C
%A Graham NAJ
%A Ketchum JT
%A Klinard NV
%A Kock AA
%A Lowe CG
%A MacNeil MA
%A Madin EMP
%A McCauley DJ
%A Meekan MG
%A Meier AC
%A Simpfendorfer CA
%A Tinker MT
%A Winton M
%A Wirsing AJ
%A Heithaus MR
%J Science
%V 385
%N 6708
%D 2024 Aug 2
%M 39088608
%F 63.714
%R 10.1126/science.adl2362
%X In ecosystems, sharks can be predators, competitors, facilitators, nutrient transporters, and food. However, overfishing and other threats have greatly reduced shark populations, altering their roles and effects on ecosystems. We review these changes and implications for ecosystem function and management. Macropredatory sharks are often disproportionately affected by humans but can influence prey and coastal ecosystems, including facilitating carbon sequestration. Like terrestrial predators, sharks may be crucial to ecosystem functioning under climate change. However, large ecosystem effects of sharks are not ubiquitous. Increasing human uses of oceans are changing shark roles, necessitating management consideration. Rebuilding key populations and incorporating shark ecological roles, including less obvious ones, into management efforts are critical for retaining sharks' functional value. Coupled social-ecological frameworks can facilitate these efforts.