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Whale Fall Research Paper

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A whale fall is a carcass of a dead whale that has dropped to the bottom of the ocean, providing a massive input of energy where there isn’t a lot of food. As decomposing bacteria increase, smells are emitted and circulate through the deep ocean currents, allowing scavenger and other organisms to pick up and follow the scent. Sharks, hagfish, and anthropoids strip the flesh down to the bone. In time, osedax worms, which live and feed on the bones, and symbiotic bacteria, which break down what’s left, extract organic compounds from the whale skeleton. This organic material is transported via deep ocean currents, providing nutrients in an area that is generally very food-limited.
A whale fall is a carcass of a dead whale that has dropped to the

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