Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Marine Science => Topic started by: katieHaylor on 31/08/2018 10:11:40

Title: Are there nutrients in animal carcasses on the ocean floor?
Post by: katieHaylor on 31/08/2018 10:11:40

Donald asks:

"Whale fall" delivers material and energy resources to the ocean floor. I am certain it is not just whales, but most  organisms that are not eaten.
Most organisms on the ocean floor do not float into the upper ocean, and tend to stay close to the floor if not fixed to it.
So after billions of years, why aren't all those nutrients built up into a very thick layer of remnants, hoarding all the carbon, nitrogen, phosphates, etc. Or is it cycled out somehow? How is it recycled out?

What do you think?

Title: Re: Are there nutrients in animal carcasses on the ocean floor?
Post by: Bored chemist on 31/08/2018 11:26:22

They get eaten
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottom_feeder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detritivore

Title: Re: Are there nutrients in animal carcasses on the ocean floor?
Post by: evan_au on 31/08/2018 12:38:14

Bone worms even eat the whale bones, if the carcass isn't promptly buried in silt.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osedax

There is relatively little biomass over the deep ocean, so it wouldn't build up very rapidly on the ocean floor.
The ocean floor (and any sediment lying on it) is recycled at subduction zones, preventing it from building up forever.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subduction

Title: Re: Are there nutrients in animal carcasses on the ocean floor?
Post by: mrsmith2211 on 01/09/2018 01:15:32