Down there, most creatures subsist on dead and decaying material that falls from the surface, forming “marine snow” — dead plankton, dead animals shells, fecal matter, and other inorganic material.

But every so often, something larger reaches the sea floor. A dead whale.

Whale carcasses — known as “whale falls” — become an energy-rich habitat, drawing a wide variety of organisms from across the deep sea to feast. Whale falls become ecosystems unto themselves.

Diva Amon, a deep-sea biologist and Pew-Bertarelli Ocean Ambassador, as well as the Director and Founder of SpeSeas has studied them up close. Amon likens the arrival of a whale fall to a Thanksgiving buffet.

Short Wave Podcast

It’s science for everyone, using a lot of creativity and a little humor. Join host Maddie Sofia for science on a different wavelength.