Life Inside a Dead Whale

Summary

Whale falls, the natural occurrence when a whale dies and sinks to the ocean floor, create a unique ecosystem. Initially, scavengers consume the flesh. Then, invertebrates feed on remaining tissue and sediment. Finally, bacteria colonize bones, producing hydrogen sulfide gas that supports a sulfur-loving community. This process, lasting decades, parallels life found near hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, and is crucial for the deep-sea biodiversity.

Takeaways

• 🐳 **Whale Fall Phenomenon**: When a whale dies in the open ocean and sinks to the ocean floor, it creates a unique ecosystem known as a whale fall.
• 🌌 **Deep Sea Impact**: A whale fall occurs at depths of at least a thousand meters where food is scarce, providing a significant food source for deep-sea creatures.
• 🔬 **First Discovery**: The first whale fall was discovered in 1987 by scientists in a deep submergence vehicle, revealing bacteria similar to those found in hydrothermal vents.
• 🦐 **Scavenger Stage**: Stage one of a whale fall involves scavengers like sleeper sharks, hagfish, and amphipods consuming the whale's flesh.
• 🐚 **Invertebrate Stage**: Stage two sees invertebrates such as crustaceans, molluscs, and polychaete worms feeding on remaining tissue and sediment.
• 🦠 **Bacterial Stage**: In stage three, bacteria colonize the whale bones, consuming lipids and producing hydrogen sulfide gas, which supports a sulfur-loving community.
• 🕰️ **Longevity**: The bacterial stage can last for decades, similar to the ecosystems found around hydrothermal vents and cold seeps.
• 🌐 **Ecosystem Similarities**: Whale falls, hydrothermal vents, and cold seeps are all nutrient-rich environments that support diverse life forms in the otherwise barren deep sea.
• 🔍 **Ongoing Research**: Scientists continue to study whale falls to understand the species involved and their adaptations to extreme conditions.
• 🐋 **Impact of Whaling**: Whaling may have reduced the occurrence of whale falls, affecting deep-sea ecosystems, a subject of ongoing research.
• 🧬 **Adaptations**: Organisms that thrive in whale falls have evolved unique adaptations to survive in the absence of oxygen and sunlight and amidst toxic chemicals.

Q & A

What is a whale fall?

A whale fall is a phenomenon that occurs when a whale dies in the open ocean and its carcass sinks to the ocean floor, typically at depths of at least a thousand meters.

How does a whale fall impact the deep sea ecosystem?

A whale fall creates a complex, unique ecosystem by providing a rich food source in an otherwise food-scarce environment, leading to the development of a specialized community of organisms.

When was the first natural whale fall discovered?

The first natural whale fall was discovered accidentally by a team of scientists in 1987 during an expedition using a deep submergence vehicle.

What types of bacteria were found on whale bones during the first whale fall study?

The bacteria found on whale bones were similar to those found in hydrothermal vents, and some new species of clams were also discovered.

What are the stages of a whale fall ecosystem?

The whale fall ecosystem goes through three stages: 1) the flesh-eating stage with scavengers like sleeper sharks and amphipods, 2) the invertebrate stage with crustaceans, molluscs, and worms, and 3) the bacterial stage where bacteria feed on whale bones.

How much tissue can scavengers consume during the first stage of a whale fall?

Scavengers can consume 40 to 60 kilograms of tissue per day during the first stage of a whale fall.

What unique species were discovered during the study of the first whale fall?

A species of snail was discovered on the first whale fall in 1987, leading to the identification of a new family of aquatic snails.

How long can the third stage of a whale fall last?

The third stage of a whale fall, where bacteria colonize the bones, can last for decades, specifically between 50 to 100 years.

How are whale falls similar to hydrothermal vents and cold seeps?

Whale falls, hydrothermal vents, and cold seeps are similar in that they all provide a rich food source in the otherwise barren seafloor, attracting and supporting various life forms.

What are the challenges in studying whale fall ecosystems?

Studying whale fall ecosystems is challenging due to their remote and deep-sea locations, which are difficult to access and require specialized equipment.

How are biologists studying the effects of whaling on the seafloor ecosystem?

Biologists are studying the effects of whaling on seafloor ecosystems by examining artificially-placed whale bones and other sunken biomass like wood and kelp to understand the organisms that colonize these environments.

What adaptations have organisms near whale falls evolved to survive?

Organisms near whale falls have evolved adaptations to survive without oxygen or sunlight and to tolerate toxic chemicals, such as the hydrogen sulfide produced by bacteria.