Researchers encountered a large amount of fin whales during their expedition.
“The fin whales seemed to go crazy because of the food load they were confronted with. It was absolutely thrilling,” Helena Herr, a marine mammal ecologist said.
Recent experiments show that global warming can cause significant deaths of aquatic animals and humans by 2300. This is why Dr. Herr was surprised to see the large group of whales because it was the largest amount of fin whales ever counted together. Researchers counted 8 large groups of up to 150 whales. New research shows that whale count is not only good for the whales, but also for the whole ecosystem. This concept is called “the whale pump.”
Because whales were endangered in 1982, the International Whaling Commission banned whaling. After the 40 years of the banning, researchers found out that the number of whales increased by thousands.
The whales excrete iron, which is in krill, back in the water. That in return, can increase phytoplankton, microscopic organisms that use carbon dioxide in photosynthesis and serve as the base of the marine food chain. This shows that the harmony of human kind and nature is critical to a healthy Earth.
Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/07/climate/fin-whales-antarctica.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/sciencespeak-whale-pump
“The fin whales seemed to go crazy because of the food load they were confronted with. It was absolutely thrilling,” Helena Herr, a marine mammal ecologist said.
Recent experiments show that global warming can cause significant deaths of aquatic animals and humans by 2300. This is why Dr. Herr was surprised to see the large group of whales because it was the largest amount of fin whales ever counted together. Researchers counted 8 large groups of up to 150 whales. New research shows that whale count is not only good for the whales, but also for the whole ecosystem. This concept is called “the whale pump.”
Because whales were endangered in 1982, the International Whaling Commission banned whaling. After the 40 years of the banning, researchers found out that the number of whales increased by thousands.
The whales excrete iron, which is in krill, back in the water. That in return, can increase phytoplankton, microscopic organisms that use carbon dioxide in photosynthesis and serve as the base of the marine food chain. This shows that the harmony of human kind and nature is critical to a healthy Earth.
Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/07/climate/fin-whales-antarctica.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/sciencespeak-whale-pump
