The Grand Banks, located to the southeast of the island of Newfoundland, is rich in both fish stocks and petroleum reserves. The combination of shallow water, ranging in depth from 36.5 to 185 meters, and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, which cover the Banks in summer and brush its southern edge in winter, have provided a fertile habitat for animal and plant life. A fishing resource since the 1400s, when Portuguese and Basqua fishermen visited, the Banks are home to cod, flounder, haddock, ocean perch, as well as hundreds of other species. Extensive exploration of the Grand Banks for petroleum reserves has been undertaken since the 1960s. Major discoveries occurred in 1979, 1981 and 1994, and oil production may already be underway.

What does the presence of major oil reserves suggest about the nature of the Grand Banks millions of years ago?

What predator species other than humans are likely to be found at the Grand Banks? Why?