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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?
