Dead Whale Becomes Mini Ecosystem Decades After Its Death in the Bathypelagic Depths Where the Sun Can't Reach

(Photo : Unsplash / Thomas Lipke)

The ocean is one big ecosystem; within it, exist even smaller ecosystems. A not-so-small ecosystem was discovered inside the dead body of a whale, showing how its carcass became home to life.

Dead Whale Body

According to Science Alert, despite some life coming to an end, the entirety of life continues on. This was especially true for the carcass of a fallen whale, which turned into a mini ecosystem, continuing to support life even years after its death.

Despite decades after a whale's death, its body could still provide food and sustenance for a whole mini ecosystem. Scientists are studying a specific North Pacific whale to understand how these ecosystems continue.

The specific carcass being studied is located off the coast of British Columbia and is known as "whale fall." The site where it lies is known as the Clayoquot Slope, where it was discovered in 2009.

Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research discovered this carcass in 2009, around 1,250 meters from the British Columbia coast. Ocean Network Canada (ONC) scientists have returned to the site since 2012 better to study the rate of decomposition of its skeleton.

Science Alert reports how scientists are also trying to track the changes regarding the diversity of marine life residing and feasting on the remains of the gigantic sea creature.

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Investigation Into the Whale's Carcass

The scientists' most recent expedition happened with the help of EV Nautilus of Ocean Exploration Trust to help them observe the Clayoquot Slope.

Nautilus Live explained that the Exploration Vessel Nautilus was a 501-square-cubic nonprofit to make critical discoveries in geology, biology, chemistry, archaeology, and maritime history. The vessel is operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) and was founded in 2008.

While in the area, the scientists used the ROV Hercules to take high-resolution videos of the "whale fall." The survey and operation of the submersible were led by ONC's Fabio De Leo, a benthic ecologist.

OET explained that the carcass of a dead whale represents a huge amount of food supply in scarce areas like the ocean floor. Their remains are enough to sustain an incredibly diverse mixture of marine organisms.

Whale Fall Ecosystem

What makes the Clayoquot whale different from other whale falls is that it landed in the bathypelagic depths, where the sun cannot reach. These depths cloud the area with permanent darkness, making it hard for certain creatures to survive.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that the bathypelagic zone is 1000 to 4000 meters deep and is also known as the midnight zone. Without any sunlight, the only source of illumination comes from bioluminescence creatures.

Some species that were observed include limpets, sea snails, isopods, crabs, rattlefish, and tube worms. The researchers were also able to take test samples of the environmental DNA.