1. BY LINDA TUCKER

2. 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

3. Mobile-Scavenger Stage

4. Stage begins with large scavengers such as:  Hagfish  Sleeper Sharks  Rattails

5. Mobile-Scavenger Stage Followed by smaller scavengers such as:  Crabs  Scuds Ends with calenoid copepods

6. Enrichment-Opportunist Stage

7. Enriched sediment around carcass hosts organisms such as:  Bristle Worms  Hooded Shrimp  Snails

8. Enrichment-Opportunist Stage Zombie worms attach to bones and feed on lipids

9. Enrichment-Opportunist Stage

10. Sulphophilic Stage

11. Organisms derive energy from bacteria:  Mussels  Tube Worms Other organisms feed on bacterial mats:  Limpets  Bristle Worms

12. Sulphophilic Stage Crustaceans such as squat lobsters prey on other organisms

13. Sulphophilic Stage

14. Where are They Found?

15. Questions?