During the ice ages, the Earth went through periods of extreme cooling, causing the sea levels to drop significantly. This exposed large areas of the continental shelves, which are typically home to a diverse range of marine life. However, sharks were able to adapt to these changing conditions and find new habitats.
One way sharks survived was by moving to deeper waters, where the temperatures remained relatively stable. They also evolved to be able to tolerate a wider range of temperatures. Additionally, sharks are able to store energy efficiently and can survive for extended periods without food, which helped them during times when prey was scarce.
Furthermore, sharks have a well-developed immune system and are less susceptible to diseases. They also have a low reproductive rate, which means that they do not need to produce a large number of offspring to ensure the survival of the species.
As a result of their ability to adapt and survive, sharks have been able to thrive for millions of years. They remain an important part of the marine ecosystem and are a testament to the resilience of life on Earth.