by linda tucker

BY LINDA TUCKER

The Whale Fall Process

When a whale dies, the carcass sinks to the ocean floor

Carcass provides food and energy for organisms

Unique communities develop around the whale fall and have high species richness

Whale fall goes through 3 stages

Mobile-Scavenger Stage

Mobile-Scavenger Stage

Stage begins with large scavengers such as:

Hagfish

Sleeper Sharks

Rattails

Mobile-Scavenger Stage

Followed by smaller scavengers such as:

Crabs

Scuds

Ends with calenoid copepods

Enrichment-Opportunist Stage

Enrichment-Opportunist Stage

Enriched sediment around carcass hosts organisms such as:

Bristle Worms

Hooded Shrimp

Snails

Enrichment-Opportunist Stage

Zombie worms attach to bones and feed on lipids

Enrichment-Opportunist Stage

Sulphophilic Stage

Sulphophilic Stage

Organisms derive energy from bacteria:

Mussels

Tube Worms

Other organisms feed on bacterial mats:

Limpets

Bristle Worms

Sulphophilic Stage

Crustaceans such as squat lobsters prey on other organisms

Sulphophilic Stage

Where are They Found?

Questions?