The carcasses of fallen whales, abundant in the deep sea, form their own ecosystems. 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 seafloor. Its body can last for decades, supporting an ever-changing ecosystem that blooms in 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 steps that we will explore in this video.
READ MORE: https://www.naturalworldfacts.com/whale-fall-ecosystems
#deep sea #wildlife #nature #animals #ocean #fish #science #biology
00:00 – An introduction to whale falls
01:44 – Ecology of a whale fall – Islands at the bottom of the sea
02:55 – Ecology of a whale fall – Ecological succession
04:05 – Formation of a whale fall
05:13 – Stage 1: The Moving Scavenger Stage
06:45 – Stage 2: The opportunistic enrichment stage
08:15 – Step 3: The sulfophilic step
10:11 a.m. – Stage 4: The Reef stage
11:06 a.m. – Conclusion
Images used are from Nautilus Live, MBARI, MarumTV, Jamstec and various YouTube sources. Please contact us if further clarification is required, at the email address on the "About" page of my YouTube channel. The use is educational and transformative.
Music used:
In Threat by Asher Fulero
Sonora of Quincas Moreira
Black And White Life by Knowpe
Find the model by Jessica Curry
A choice by Jessica Curry
The Jessica Curry Manifestation
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/
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