What human activity poses a significant threat to zebra sharks by scraping the seafloor and destroying their habitat?
Answer
Bottom trawling.
Bottom trawling represents one of the most severe, direct threats to the survival niche of the zebra shark. This fishing method involves dragging weighted nets across the ocean floor. For the zebra shark, this process is catastrophic because it physically scrapes away the complex reef architecture and sandy substrates that constitute both their resting shelters and the hiding places for their specialized prey, such as small crustaceans and mollusks. By obliterating the benthic habitat structure, bottom trawling directly eliminates the shark's food supply and removes critical protective areas.
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