Scientists Film Sharks Swimming In Underwater Volcano After Eruption

A group of scientists was able to film sharks living inside an active underwater volcano following its eruption. The scientists noted that the video shows the link between sharks and volcanoes.

The video was captured in 2015 following the eruption of Kavachi, which is regarded as one of the most active underwater volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean. Following its eruption, groups of sharks were spotted living within the volcano.

According to Michael Heithaus, a scientist from the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University, the discovery of the sharks shows the important role that underwater volcanoes play in the marine ecosystem.

“Seeing that got me thinking about just how important volcanoes are to life in the ocean,” Heithaus told Newsweek. “And it isn't just about active volcanoes. It's about the habitat they create out in the middle of the ocean.”

The video of the sharks taken in 2015 will be used as part of a new documentary. Titled “Sharkano,” the documentary will premiere on National Geographic on July 21 as part of “Sharkfest,” the three-week-long program dedicated to sharks.

The documentary will focus on the unique relationship between sharks and underwater volcanoes. As explained by Heithaus, there is a strong link between these two because the latter provides an ideal habitat for marine animals.

According to the scientist, active underwater volcanoes supply nutrients into the ocean. These nutrients serve as the basis of food chains, which can attract larger predators such as sharks.

Since natural sources of food in the ocean have been dwindling due to various factors such as overfishing, most marine animals tend to live in areas that can sustain ideal feeding conditions.

"Most of the open ocean is a place without a ton of food,” Heithaus explained. “In the open ocean, it's volcanoes that have created most of the land out there. So, at the base level, many sharks depend on volcanoes in ways most people wouldn't think about.”

“If there hadn't been volcanoes in certain areas there would be no reefs or no land,” he continued. “That would mean that the species of sharks that need those habitats couldn't live in those areas without the presence of a volcano.”