Ancient Whale Graveyards Reveal Thriving Marine Communities

Scientists have discovered marine communities, including jellyfish, tubeworms, and brittle stars, thriving around an ancient whale graveyard. These graveyards are formed when whale carcasses sink to the seabed, providing sustenance to marine creatures. This particular graveyard, located up to 23,000 feet (7 kilometers) below the sea surface in the southeastern Indian Ocean, covers the largest and deepest area found so far.

According to Xikun Song, a biologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, the large size and unique chemistry of whale bones are crucial for forming these underwater communities. Song highlighted the challenges of locating these graveyards due to the deep ocean’s nature. Song contributed to the recent discovery and exploration using deep-sea submersible trips in 2023. During these expeditions, researchers collected samples and mapped the necropolis, uncovering five carcass sites and fossils, including skulls from beaked and baleen whales. The oldest bones date back 5.3 million years.

Diverse creatures, such as sea cucumbers, squat lobsters, and saltwater clams, were observed feeding and residing on the whale remains. Many of these species are likely undocumented, according to findings in the journal Nature. Paleontologist Stephen Godfrey from the Calvert Marine Museum noted the astounding potential number of species present, although he was not involved in the research.

The study authors suggest several factors preserved the bones over millions of years. The bones’ density protected them from bone-eating worms, and their deep location prevented burial under dust and particles. A thin mineral coating from seawater might have also protected them from degradation.

Possible reasons for the high concentration of whale carcasses include natural deaths of whales already living in the area, exhaustion, or illness from deep-sea diving. The region’s V-shaped geography may have directed the remains to their final location.

Understanding these findings is crucial for scientists to learn how life adapts to extreme conditions. The research helps reveal how organisms survive in remote areas with high pressure, low light, and little oxygen. Giovanni Bianucci, a paleontologist from the University of Pisa and study co-author, emphasized the importance of these studies for understanding life in challenging environments.

Note: This article contains information supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Associated Press is responsible for all content.