The Fascinating World of Whale Falls

🐋Whale falls create localized ecosystems on the ocean floor, sustaining life for long periods of time.

🦈Mobile scavengers like sharks and hagfish are attracted to whale carcasses and consume the flesh and blubber.

🪱Invertebrates colonize the bones during the enrichment opportunist stage, feeding on organic fragments and detritus.

🦠During the sulfophilic stage, chemosynthetic bacteria break down lipids in the bones, supporting a dense mix of bacterial mats.

🐚The reef stage involves the solid mineral remains of the whale bones providing a substrate for suspension and filter feeders to thrive.

How long do whale falls last?

—Whale falls can last for decades, providing sustained ecosystems on the ocean floor.

What organisms are attracted to whale carcasses?

—Mobile scavengers like sharks, hagfish, and sleeper sharks are attracted to whale carcasses.

What happens during the sulfophilic stage of a whale fall?

—During the sulfophilic stage, chemosynthetic bacteria break down lipids in the bones, supporting a dense mix of bacterial mats.

How do whale falls contribute to biodiversity?

—Whale falls create unique habitats that support specialized organisms, contributing to biodiversity on the ocean floor.

What is the reef stage of a whale fall?

—The reef stage involves the solid mineral remains of the whale bones, providing a substrate for suspension and filter feeders to inhabit.

00:05Whale falls create complex ecosystems on the ocean floor.

01:18Mobile scavengers like sharks and hagfish consume the flesh and blubber of whale carcasses.

06:43During the sulfophilic stage, chemosynthetic bacteria break down lipids in the bones.

10:15The reef stage involves the solid mineral remains of the whale bones providing a substrate for suspension and filter feeders.