Whale Herds Cycle Nutrients Throughout the Ocean

Biological Strategy

C.K. Unsworth

Coordinate Systems

Nature is full of systems that work in harmony by following simple rules that lead to complex behavior, such as fish swimming in a school or migrating grasshoppers flying in swarms. Coordinated behavior is also observed in how a slime mold grows, how our own neural network functions, and how some animals vote on where to live or move.

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Cooperate Within the Same Species

A species is a group of organisms capable of breeding to produce fertile offspring. When individuals within a species undertake activities that benefit one another, that cooperation benefits not just the individuals, but also local and wider populations of that species. Collaborating in activities such as finding food, controlling parasites, and protecting from predators enhances overall survival. To cooperate, there must be enough benefit to an individual, and especially to a population, to justify any risk taken by individuals. Through cooperation, risk is distributed among individuals and the benefits to the community are greater than the sum of the benefits to individuals. An example is birds that gather in flocks, a cooperative activity more beneficial than acting alone. While some birds forage, others watch for predators. When one finds food, others also feed on it. Despite potential short-term competition for an individual that finds food, over the long-term, that same individual benefits when others find different food sources.

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Mammals

Class Mammalia (“breast”): Bats, cats, whales, horses, humans

Mammals make up less than 1% of all animals on earth, but they include some of the most well-known species. We know first-hand some of the characteristics that make mammals unique, like having hair, being able to sweat, and producing milk through mammary glands. Another critical shared feature is a set of highly-specialized teeth. Unlike sharks or alligators, for example, whose teeth are generally all the same size and shape, mammals have differently shaped teeth in different areas of the jaws to target specific foods or foraging strategies.

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The migratory whale herd concept highlights the essential and interconnected ecological role of whales that supports healthy ocean ecosystems.

Introduction

Whales, as some of the largest and most migratory animals on Earth, play a vital role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems. They travel vast distances between feeding and breeding grounds, connecting marine habitats across entire ocean basins. The “migratory whale herd” concept views whales not as isolated populations but as interconnected ecological units linked by shared migratory routes and collective behaviors. This approach highlights the importance of conserving whales in the context of their broader ecological networks.

The Strategy

Whales are central to the health of marine ecosystems, functioning as “ecosystem engineers.” Through their migrations, they transport nutrients across oceans, fertilizing plankton—the foundation of marine food webs—and facilitating biodiversity. This process, known as the “whale pump,” vertically redistributes nutrients as whales feed at depth and surface to excrete. Migratory routes, shared by groups of whales, act as ecological highways, supporting the flow of energy and matter between distant habitats.

Social cohesion within whale herds is also vital. Whales use complex vocalizations to navigate, communicate, and pass on knowledge about migratory routes and habitats. These learned behaviors enhance the survival of individuals and ensure the continued functioning of their ecological networks. Protecting these migratory herds ensures not only the survival of whales but also the stability of the ecosystems they sustain.

The Potential

The migratory herd concept offers a practical framework for marine conservation, emphasizing the protection of migratory routes and critical habitats. By safeguarding these ecological networks, we can enhance biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem resilience, and support the ocean’s capacity for carbon sequestration. This concept also inspires systems thinking in human design, such as creating sustainable transportation networks that mimic the efficiency of migratory pathways.

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Last Updated January 14, 2025

References

Journal article

The migratory whale herd concept: A novel unit to conserve under the ecological paradigm

Marine Mammal Science | April 13, 2023 | Karen K. Martien, Barbara L. Taylor, Aimee R. Lang, Phillip J. Clapham, David W. Weller, Frederick I. Archer, John Calambokidis

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