Whales and their role in

the ecosystem
Presented by Aung
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Objective

❏ To help others understand more about whales.

❏ To showcase how whales maintain a healthy aquatic ecosystem.
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Contents

1. Introduction to whales

2. Cooling the Earth

3. Whale fall

4. Conclusion

5. References

6. Q&A
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Introduction to Whales

❏ Often mistaken for being fishes.

❏ Are actually marine mammals known as

“Cetaceans”.
Skerry, B. (2017)
❏ One of the largest animals on earth.

❏ Can be classified into two small orders: Toothed

whales & Baleen Whales.

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Toothed whales

❏ Systematic name - Odontoceti

❏ Contains 73 species.

❏ Have conical teeth.

❏ Mostly feed on fish and squid.

❏ Have well-developed hearing.

PaleoNeolitic. (2013)

❏ Range from 1.4 m & 54 kg to 20 m &

55 tons. Toothed whale - Wikipedia

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Baleen Whales
❏ Systematic name - Mysticeti

❏ Currently 16 species.

❏ Baleen plates instead of teeth.

❏ Diet consists of zooplanktons.

Knight, B. (2022)

❏ Most species prefer colder waters.

❏ Sizes range from 6 m & 3,000 kg to 31 m &

Baleen whale - Wikipedia

190 tons.
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Cooling the earth

❏ Their excrement helps prevent climate change.

❏ Phytoplankton helps absorb carbon dioxide.

❏ Iron-rich excrement helps phytoplankton growth.

❏ The amount of excrement causes a phytoplankton

bloom.
SciShow, (2021).
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A phytoplankton bloom in
the South Atlantic Ocean.

ESA. (2012).
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Sperm whales in the Southern Ocean alone

help store 240,000 tons of carbon per year
through their excrement.
SciShow, (2021).
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Whale fall
What is a whale fall?

❏ Happens when a whale carcass sinks to the ocean floor.

❏ Provides food source.

❏ Generates biodiversity.
Whale fall - Wikipedia

chede. (2023).
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Conclusion

❏ Being a keystone species.

❏ Helping the planet even in death.

❏ Protecting them helps preserve the web of

life.
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References
❏ Whale - Wikipedia
❏ Cetacea - Wikipedia
❏ Skerry, B. (2017). Whale Culture. Whale Culture - Brian Skerry
❏ Toothed whale - Wikipedia
❏ PaleoNeolitic. (2013). Odontoceti Diversity. File:Odontoceti Diversity.png - Wikipedia
❏ Baleen whale - Wikipedia
❏ Knight, B. (2022). A whale’s tale: the story in their mouths.
A whale's tale: the story hidden in their mouths | UNSW Newsroom
❏ SciSchow. (2021). Whale Poop Help Cools Our Planet. Whale Poop Helps Cool Our Planet (youtube.com)
❏ ESA. (2012). Earth from space: A Southern Summer Bloom.
Earth from Space: A southern summer bloom (phys.org)
❏ Whale fall - Wikipedia
❏ chede. (2023). Whale fall | Animated Student Film 2021 (ACCD x GOBELINS).
WHALE FALL | Animated Student Film 2021 (ACCD x GOBELINS) (youtube.com)
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Thank you for your attention.

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Q&A
Any questions?