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Since whales can travel great distances, scientists find it difficult to track them. As such, whale poo aids in conservation efforts, as it provides biologists with resources to assess the breeding and feeding grounds of whales on a daily basis.
The definition of "marine megafauna" doesn’t only cover whales. In fact, it also covers sharks, rays, and a whole host of bony fish. Overall, marine megafauna play key roles in marine ecosystems, and it is crucial to maintain their collective health.
Whale poo indirectly supports the life we have on Earth, by fertilizing phytoplankton growth and helping them produce our much-needed oxygen.
As one of the largest animals in the ocean, whales have a significant impact on their environment, which they achieve in two primary ways: whale poo, and whale carcasses.
Unfortunately, whales are endangered. For 200 years, whaling removed these precious creatures from the ocean and created a hole in the ecosystem that has taken a long time to fix.
Caring about whales is crucial for the very life of our planet. Without whales, the entire structure of marine biology would collapse, and all future generations would collapse with it.
Sources: (TED Talks) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) (Marine Megafauna Foundation)
Certain nutrients in whale poo are rare in the ocean. Whales consume nutrient-rich prey from deep ocean waters and redistribute these nutrients in barren areas.
But what about whale carcasses? When a whale dies, it eventually sinks to the bottom of the ocean, and it takes large amounts of carbon dioxide with it. In fact, a whale carcass transports 33 tons of CO² on average.
Whale poo plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems. It fertilizes phytoplankton, which are microscopic algae that form the foundation of the marine food web and provide food for a vast array of marine organisms and wildlife.
Phytoplankton also produce over half of the world's oxygen by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. This makes them the primary source of the oxygen we breathe!
In fact, while trees and forests are essential for life on Earth due partly to the oxygen they release, the oceans actually provide more than 50% of the planet’s oxygen.
Phytoplankton don’t only release oxygen. Indeed, just like trees, phytoplankton absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and turn it into oxygen, a process that helps regulate global climate.
Whale poo contributes to the health of coral reefs by enhancing the growth of algae, which serve as food for coral polyps. This is crucial for life on Earth, as coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine environment.
Coral reefs support a diverse array of marine life, including fish, invertebrates, and other organisms, making them one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth.
Other marine biology also rely on whale feces for nutrients. Whale poo is rich in nitrogen and iron, which are essential for the growth of marine plants and algae. So it seems that their excrement is essential in facilitating nutrient cycling in marine ecosystems.
Fish stocks around the world rely heavily on whale feces. The populations of fish and other seafood would be critically endangered without these nutrients, which would mean that an important food source for humans would be ruined.
Sustainable fisheries have also taken major steps to ensure a seamless and non-invasive management of fishing in the oceans. However, even their operations rely on whale poo in order to keep ocean ecosystems healthy!
But fishing and marine life are not the only things that benefit. Other economic areas, such as tourism and recreation, also require healthy marine biology in order to thrive. And so whale poo enhances these values.
Studying the distribution and composition of whale feces can help scientists better understand ecosystem dynamics and the factors influencing marine productivity and biodiversity.
Interestingly, whale feces is also an indicator of ocean health. The presence and distribution of whale poo can provide scientists with valuable information about the health and productivity of marine ecosystems.
To provide context, one whale carcass traps enough carbon dioxide to cover the CO² emissions of eight cars over an entire year period.
Whale carcasses are also islands of abundance. They host a number of species–such as slime eels and hagfish–that rely on their carcasses for survival. In its final stage of decay, a whale skeleton can feed up to 200 species.
Whales also hold cultural significance for coastal communities and indigenous peoples around the world, representing cultural identity, heritage, and traditional knowledge systems.
In the 1970s, Greenpeace launched the world’s first anti-whaling campaign, known as Save the Whales. This campaign proved to be a commensurate success, as the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling in 1986.
Conservation organizations, such as the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF), have dedicated much of their existence to the protection of the most endangered ocean giants.
The vast expanse of the azure oceans are home to important marine biology that form the very foundations of life on Earth. Whales are one of these creatures. And on the topic of whales, a Sri Lankan marine biologist named Asha de Vos gave an inspiring TED Talk where she detailed the value that these magnificent creatures have in the health of the planet. Above all, she had this point to make: whale poo is very, very important!
Curious? Click through the following gallery to read up on why whale poo is so crucial.
Why is whale poo so critical to our planet?
These ocean giants might be the most important animals on the planet
LIFESTYLE Environment
The vast expanse of the azure oceans are home to important marine biology that form the very foundations of life on Earth. Whales are one of these creatures. And on the topic of whales, a Sri Lankan marine biologist named Asha de Vos gave an inspiring TED Talk where she detailed the value that these magnificent creatures have in the health of the planet. Above all, she had this point to make: whale poo is very, very important!
Curious? Click through the following gallery to read up on why whale poo is so crucial.