Recent Comment
Share
Australian scientists have discovered that whale poo is not only helping ocean plant life to flourish, but also increasing the ocean's ability to absorb CO2.
Because whales' diets are made up largely of iron-rich krill (small crustaceans), their droppings are a great fertilizer for marine plants, helping them to grow like weeds (or algae). These plants then do their part by absorbing CO2 as they grow, a process that scientists have tried to amp up (unsuccessfully) in Antarctic waters with iron fertilization.
Researchers say one-third of the world's oceans are low in iron. On the other hand, whale excrement contains a very high concentration of the mineral -- about 10 million times the concentration in Antarctic seawater. But how will scientists use this information? That's not clear yet, but it's a great reminder of how intricately well-tuned nature can be.
via AFP
Subscribe to this comment's feed
written by Mike, April 26, 2010
Secondly, whales are not the only creatures which eat an iron rich diet. Humans also eat an incredibly iron rich diet. Would it not be possible to construct very large tankers to take human wastes to the parts of the oceans which are iron deficient? This way, mankind can help the whales.
-
- -1
-
-
written by wermund, April 26, 2010
-
- +1
-
-
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
I write for the Examiner and recently queried if the whale that eventually died off of Long Island was a victim of plastic trash. Sadly, on Earth Day Diane Sawyer said the evidence was in, and the answer is yes.
After the necropsy was finished, 25 plastic bags, a sweat suit, and a golf ball were found to be part of the whale's stomach contents.
http://www.examiner.com/x-22463-Atlanta-Green-Culture-Examiner~y2010m4d11-Was-the-stranded-Humpback-whale-that-died-off-East-Hampton-NY-a-victim-of-plastic-pollution