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Whale falls provide a succession of biotic communities (Smith and Baco 2003; Goffredi et al. 2004). First, mobile scavengers (fish and crustaceans) remove nearly all the soft tissue relatively quickly (4-5 months) (Smith and Baco 2003). Second, the enrichment-opportunistic stage brings in crustaceans and polychaetes for up to two years (Smith and Baco 2003). Third, the sulfophilic stage occurs. This stage is dominated by sulfate reducing microbial mats and small invertebrate species that are either sulfide-tolerant or sulfide dependant (Smith and Baco 2003). This stage could last for many years. Typically, the taxa found around the whale falls are either new to science or have been found at mid-ocean ridges (Smith et al. 1989). Yet, Goffredi et al. (2004) hypothesize that some of the annelids may be whale fall specialists. Additionally all of the taxa must be distributors, meaning they survive and prosper by seeking out these opportunities (Goffredi et al. 2004). |
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Stage 1: Opportunistic fishes and crustaceans locates the dead whale and start to consume the soft tissue. This stage last a few months |
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Stage 2: The opportunistic macro fauna leaves and bacteria and small invertebrates start to dominate the diversity at the whale fall. |
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Stage 3: Only chemoautotrophic bacteria and sulfide-tolerant or sulfide dependant can survive off of the whale fall. This stage can last for decades. |
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A new species of annelid. (From Goffredi et al. 2004) Scale =1 cm. |
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Ampharetid worm. Scale =1 cm. (From Goffredi et al. 2004) |
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Skull with octopus (Graneledone sp.). (From Goffredi et al. 2004) |
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Large bacterial mat (bm) associated with stage 2 and stage 3. (From Goffredi et al. 2004) |
Where are whale falls typically found?