Scientists are saying that Sperm whale faeces can be used to absorb excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Research conducted in Australia on the Southern Ocean Sperm whales has shown that the large ocean mammals produce up to 50 tonnes of iron per year. According to the scientists, this production stimulates growth spurts in tiny marine plants that can absorb CO2 during the photosynthesis process.
These phytoplankton, when in contact with sperm whale populations, can absorb up to 400,000 tonnes of carbon from the air. The rough equivalent of twice as much as whales produce by breathing. The study concludes in the Royal Society Journal Proceedings B that the same effect results in a greater abundance in food source for the whales as well.
Phytoplankton make up the foundation of the marine cycle, but the growth of such plants is directly linked to the amount of available nutrients, which includes iron. In the past decade, several research teams have been examining the effect of putting excess iron into the ocean as a means to combat global climate change. However, not all experiments have proven successful, such as the German Lohafex expedition, which resulted in six tonnes of iron being dumped into the Southern Ocean with no substantial change in the atmosphere.
However, scientists are suggesting now that sperm whales are fertilising plants in several areas of the world. But crucial to the research is the notion that sperm whales eat in one place and defecate in another, allowing sufficient amounts of iron to enter the atmosphere without being consumed again.
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