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How are blue whales important to the environment?

How are blue whales important to the environment?

The blue whales, along with the other great whales, play a key role in maintaining a healthy ocean ecosystem. Through their defecation, whales fertilize the microscopic phytoplankton, upon which all sea life depends.

How do whales save the environment?

In death, whales carry the tons of carbon stored in their massive bodies down to rest on the seafloor, where it can remain for centuries. Scientists point out that helping whale populations recover from past overharvesting can help reduce greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.

What do whales provide for us?

Wherever whales are found, so are phytoplankton. These tiny creatures produce every second breath we take, by contributing to at least 50 per cent of all the oxygen in our atmosphere. They also capture about 37 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide or four Amazon forests’ worth.

Why does the earth need whales?

Whales play a vital role in the marine ecosystem where they help provide at least half of the oxygen you breathe, combat climate change, and sustain fish stocks. How do they do it? By providing nutrients to phytoplankton.

How do whales help with climate change?

How do whales help combat climate change? Whales play a key part in helping to combat climate change through their role in the marine ecosystem. The way that whales feed, poo, migrate, and dive between the surface and the ocean depths (known as the ‘whale pump’), circulates essential nutrients throughout the ocean.

How can we help save blue whales?

Make a difference

  1. Adopt. Adopt a whale and help us protect these amazing creatures.
  2. Join. You can join our team and help us save whales and dolphins.
  3. Donate. Your gifts help us take action for whales and dolphins.
  4. Shop. Support WDC by shopping for yourself or a friend.

Why saving whales is important?

Australian researchers have found that the iron-rich faeces of sperm whales living in the Southern Ocean boosts the growth of phytoplankton, marine plants which suck in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Why are whales important to their ecosystem?

Whales are important in the marine ecosystem as they regulate the amount of food by maintaining a stable food chain. If whales became extinct, the species that they feed on could quickly over populate and destroy other marine species.

Why are whales becoming extinct?

There are a number of factors contributing to the current endangered status of whales such as overfishing, pollution, dam/bridge construction, private/commercial boating and commercial whaling, but out of these contributing factors commercial whaling has had the largest affect on the endangered status of today’s existing whale populations.

What are blue whales environment?

The blue whale habitat ranges from the Arctic to the Southern Ocean , which basically means that it can be found in all the oceans of the world.