Ocean is not just a place to stay but also a toilet. A study published in the PLoS Biology journal in August 2011 revealed that about 2.2 million species, from microscopic zooplankton to one-ton creatures, living and defecating in the ocean. Among the many types of animals, whales are most abundant species to produce "garbage".
A study released in the Canadian Journal of Zoology reveals, Sei whales which can reach a length of 18 meters and weighs 45 tons to produce 627 liters of urine a day, the equivalent of 166 gallons of drinking water. Meanwhile, Fin whales along the 26 meters and weight of 72,575 kilograms of producing 974 liters or 257 gallons of urine per day. Total the sea feces has never been measured but dengam easily found at the sea surfaces. The feces of the largest mammals on Earth that has a distinctive color and a pungent odor.
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| The impressive quantities of waste produced by a whale don't go to waste. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1bobpO) |
Although it is a metabolic waste, urine and feces of whales useful, and makes human beings can still eat fish. Urine provide nitrogen to the environment. While feces in addition to providing nitrogen also supplies the oceans with phosphorus and iron.
Phytoplankton, a tiny sea creatures that have functions such as a tree, using the nutrients from whale waste to grow. With the nutrients, phytoplankton are able to perform photosynthesis, providing oxygen for other marine creatures, and reproduce.
Phytoplankton growth due to the dirt of whales allows marine ecosystems remain balanced. Zooplankton eat phytoplankton. Zooplankton then eaten by other bigger creatures. Thus the food chain in the oceans work.
Joe Roman, a biologist from the University of Vermont, said that the whale is "ecosystem engineers". Several species of whales prey on creatures that live in the deep sea and throw the waste of the digestive on the surface of the ocean. Whale shows the connection between deep sea creatures and surface that will not be possible to meet each other.
Today, whales are the animals that face many threats. Scientists predicted, caused a decline in whale populations would be disastrous for the organisms that depend on the waste of whales. If left unchecked, the fish stocks as a source of protein for humans in danger. Humans may be difficult to eat fish.
"Research shows that more and more whales, the population of the fish population will also increase. This is because the pope to release nutrients that sustain the life of the fish," said Ramon as quoted by LiveScience, June 25, 2016. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE]
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