The evolutionary edge that fueled great white shark dominance for millions of years could soon become its greatest downfall. As the ocean's iconic predators face a ‘double jeopardy’ of warming waters and declining food supplies, they may be forced to relocate to cooler areas.

‘If you’re a shark, you can’t just pop down to the supermarket and buy more food,’ said Nick Payne, lead author from Trinity College Dublin. These sharks burn nearly four times as much energy as their cold-blooded counterparts, making them particularly vulnerable to the rise in water temperature.

Mesothermic species, including great whites, thresher and porbeagle sharks, have evolved to trap metabolic heat, allowing higher swimming speeds and enhanced predation. However, this evolutionary advantage now poses a threat as larger fish generate more heat faster than they can lose it, leading to potential overheating in warmer waters.

As suitable habitats shrink due to the increasing heat, these species will face increased competition for prey during summer months. The shrinking of habitable areas could significantly impact their long-distance migrations and overall survival.