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Published byAlexis Powell Modified over 9 years ago
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BY LINDA TUCKER
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The Whale Fall Process When a whale dies, the carcass sinks to the ocean floor Carcass provides food and energy for organisms Unique communities develop around the whale fall and have high species richness Whale fall goes through 3 stages
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Mobile-Scavenger Stage
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Stage begins with large scavengers such as: Hagfish Sleeper Sharks Rattails
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Mobile-Scavenger Stage Followed by smaller scavengers such as: Crabs Scuds Ends with calenoid copepods
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Enrichment-Opportunist Stage
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Enriched sediment around carcass hosts organisms such as: Bristle Worms Hooded Shrimp Snails
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Enrichment-Opportunist Stage Zombie worms attach to bones and feed on lipids
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Enrichment-Opportunist Stage
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Sulphophilic Stage
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Organisms derive energy from bacteria: Mussels Tube Worms Other organisms feed on bacterial mats: Limpets Bristle Worms
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Sulphophilic Stage Crustaceans such as squat lobsters prey on other organisms
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Sulphophilic Stage
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Where are They Found?
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Questions?
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