Whale falls can provide a food source for decades, supporting a diverse community of organisms in the deep ocean.
A variety of specialized creatures, including bone-eating worms, clams, and bacteria, thrive on whale falls.
As bacteria decompose the remaining bones and tissue, they release nutrients into the surrounding environment, nourishing a unique ecosystem.
The sunken carcass, now known as a whale fall, becomes a valuable food source for deep-sea organisms.
As the carcass is stripped of its flesh, it becomes heavier and sinks to the ocean floor.
Seabirds, sharks, and other marine scavengers quickly descend on the carcass, feasting on the exposed flesh.
Gas buildup from the decomposition process causes the whale's body to bloat, sometimes leading it to float to the surface.