Wednesday 16 June 2010

Whale poo helps combat Global Warming!

According to an article on the BBC News website, sperm whale faeces help oceans absorb CO2.

The article in short...

Researchers from Australia have calculated that Southern Ocean sperm whales release approximately 50 tonnes of iron each year in their fecal matter. The iron stimulates the growth of phytoplankton (tiny plants and the basis of the marine food web) which absorbs CO2 during photosynthesis. This process results in the absorption of around 400,000 tonnes of carbon which is over twice as much carbon as whales release when breathing.

The process also provides more food for the whales as the growth of phytoplankton is limited by the amount of nutrients available which includes iron.

Read the whole article here.
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