From Death to Life: The Remarkable Transformation of a Whale's Final Resting Place
The remains of a whale carcass discovered deep in the North Pacific Ocean off the coast of British Columbia have created a thriving mini ecosystem, known as a "whale fall," that continues to support diverse marine life. Scientists have been studying the decomposition rate and changes in biodiversity at the site since 2012. The recent expedition by the Ocean Exploration Trust's EV Nautilus provided high-resolution video and a survey of the whale fall, revealing a rich benthic fauna including limpets, sea snails, isopods, crabs, rattail fish, and tube worms. The discovery sheds light on how whale carcasses sustain life in the otherwise food-poor deep-sea floor.