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'Whale poop loop' keeps ocean and humans alive and well
Whales of all shapes and sizes play a significant role in the health of marine ecosystems. About 50% of the air humans breathe is produced by the ocean, thanks to phytoplankton and whale waste. The Whale Poop Loop is the foundation of the marine food web and the planet's lungs.
Packed with nutrients, whale waste is a super fertilizer that supports phytoplankton, which produces oxygen and is food for zooplankton, fish, and other marine species. The marine creatures phytoplankton support then provide food for shorebirds and humans.
https://phys.org/news/2025-07-whale-poop-loop-ocean-humans.html
Link says a blue whale, but that's a humpback, like my avatar.
Whales of all shapes and sizes play a significant role in the health of marine ecosystems. About 50% of the air humans breathe is produced by the ocean, thanks to phytoplankton and whale waste. The Whale Poop Loop is the foundation of the marine food web and the planet's lungs.
Packed with nutrients, whale waste is a super fertilizer that supports phytoplankton, which produces oxygen and is food for zooplankton, fish, and other marine species. The marine creatures phytoplankton support then provide food for shorebirds and humans.
https://phys.org/news/2025-07-whale-poop-loop-ocean-humans.html
Link says a blue whale, but that's a humpback, like my avatar.
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