Composition of cetacean communities worldwide shapes their contribution to ocean nutrient cycling

Lola Gilbert, Tiphaine Jeanniard-du-Dot, Matthieu Authier, Tiphaine Chouvelon and Jérôme Spitz ()
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Lola Gilbert: UMR 7372 La Rochelle University - CNRS
Tiphaine Jeanniard-du-Dot: UMR 7372 La Rochelle University - CNRS
Matthieu Authier: UAR 3462 La Rochelle University - CNRS
Tiphaine Chouvelon: UAR 3462 La Rochelle University - CNRS
Jérôme Spitz: UMR 7372 La Rochelle University - CNRS

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Defecation by large whales is known to fertilise oceans with nutrients, stimulating phytoplankton and ecosystem productivity. However, our current understanding of these processes is limited to a few species, nutrients and ecosystems. Here, we investigate the role of cetacean communities in the worldwide biological cycling of two major nutrients and six trace nutrients. We show that cetaceans release more nutrients in mesotrophic to eutrophic temperate waters than in oligotrophic tropical waters, mirroring patterns of ecosystem productivity. The released nutrient cocktails also vary geographically, driven by the composition of cetacean communities. The roles of small cetaceans, deep diving cetaceans and baleen whales differ quantitatively and functionally, with contributions of small cetaceans and deep divers exceeding those of large whales in some areas. The functional diversity of cetacean communities expands beyond their role as top predators to include their role as active nutrient vectors, which might be equally important to local ecosystem dynamics.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41532-y

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