Fallen whale carcasses, abundant in the deep-sea, form ecosystems of their own. When a whale dies and sinks, the carcass provides a sudden, concentrated food source and creates an ‘island’ of organic matter on an otherwise food-poor seabed. Its body can last for decades, supporting an ever-changing ecosystem that blooms out of the barren darkness like flowers in spring. As it decomposes, different stages support a succession of marine biological communities. It is these complex and fascinating stages that we will explore in this video.
READ MORE: https://www.naturalworldfacts.com/whale-fall-ecosystems
#deepsea #wildlife #nature #animals #ocean #fish #science #biology
00:00 – A Introduction to Whale-falls
01:44 – Ecology of a Whale-fall – Islands on the Sea-floor
02:55 – Ecology of a Whale-fall – Ecological Succession
04:05 – Formation of a Whale-fall
05:13 – Stage 1: The Mobile Scavenger Stage
06:45 – Stage 2: The Enrichment Opportunist Stage
08:15 – Stage 3: The Sulfophilic Stage
10:11 – Stage 4: The Reef Stage
11:06 – Conclusion
Footage used is from Nautilus Live, MBARI, MarumTV, Jamstec and various YouTube sources. Please reach out if any further clarification is needed, to the email address my YouTube channel’s ‘about’ page. Usage is educational and transformative.
Music Used:
In The Throes by Asher Fulero
Sonora by Quincas Moreira
Noir Et Blanc Vie by Knowpe
Finding the Pattern by Jessica Curry
A Choice by Jessica Curry
The Manifestation by Jessica Curry
Resources:
https://www.npr.org/2019/09/13/760664122/what-happens-after-a-whale-dies
https://nerc.ukri.org/planetearth/stories/137/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25251277/
https://www.mbari.org/whale-falls-islands-of-abundance-and-diversity-in-the-deep-sea/