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Largest mammals -

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.

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Phytoplankton -

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.

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Oxygen factories -

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!

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Forests as a comparison -

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.

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Indirect relationship -

Whale poo indirectly supports the life we have on Earth, by fertilizing phytoplankton growth and helping them produce our much-needed oxygen.

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CO2 -

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.

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An entire ecosystem -

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.

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Rare resources -

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.

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Coral reefs -

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.

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Marine life -

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.

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Seafood -

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.

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Fishing sustainably -

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!

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Recreation -

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.

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Whale watching - Tourism centered around whale watching relies on the presence of healthy whale populations and marine ecosystems, which are supported by processes such as nutrient cycling—facilitated by whale feces.

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An ocean gauge -

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.

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Scientific studies -

Studying the distribution and composition of whale feces can help scientists better understand ecosystem dynamics and the factors influencing marine productivity and biodiversity.

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Tracking whales -

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.

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Megafauna -

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.

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Dead whales -

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.

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Carbon emissions -

To provide context, one whale carcass traps enough carbon dioxide to cover the CO² emissions of eight cars over an entire year period.

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A home for others -

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.

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Cetacean intelligence - But if the ocean’s survival isn’t enough reason to keep whales alive, there are other factors as well. Whales are known for their high levels of intelligence, social complexity, and communication skills. Studying their cognition and behavior can deepen our understanding of animal intelligence and also our own connection to the world.

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Cultural identity -

Whales also hold cultural significance for coastal communities and indigenous peoples around the world, representing cultural identity, heritage, and traditional knowledge systems.

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Whaling -

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.

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Save the Whales -

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.

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Protection -

Conservation organizations, such as the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF), have dedicated much of their existence to the protection of the most endangered ocean giants.

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For future generations -

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)

See also: What might happen when Earth runs out of oxygen?

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