International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.4, 163-174 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 1 72 A complete whale fall succession can last for decades or even hundreds of years. However, scientific research projects have limited cycles and mostly can only be observed intermittently for several years (Xie et al., 2023). Deep-sea field experiments and sampling themselves are challenging. Deep-sea conditions are harsh, each dive is costly, and sampling is often destructive and has a limited coverage. If traditional box-type sampling is adopted, it is very likely to miss the small-scale heterogeneous distribution of whale falls. The integration of multiple disciplines still needs to be strengthened. Whale fall ecology involves biological, chemical, geological and other processes. Currently, most research focuses on the description of biological communities, while paying insufficient attention to the details of the chemical environment and the geological changes of sediments. The uncertainties brought about by human activities also affect research. 8 Concluding Remarks Whale falls are unique and significant "nutrient islands" in deep-sea ecosystems, and their formation injects tremendous organic energy into the originally barren seabed. The ecological succession process of whale fall shows distinct stages: from the initial stage of large-scale scavengers competing for a feast, to the flourishing of opportunists in the middle stage, then to the peak of chemical energy symbiotic communities in the later stage, and finally to the stage of sporadic attached organisms after nutrient depletion. The species alternate and change in each stage, reflecting the complex interspecific interaction and energy flow mechanism. Whale falls not only give birth to a rich and diverse biological community, including a large number of newly discovered endemic species, but also connect the scattered deep-sea energy ecosystems through a "stepping stone" effect, which is of profound significance. Studying the dynamics of whale fall communities helps deepen our understanding of the life laws in deep-sea extreme environments: whale falls offer an observable deep-sea "ecological experiment", allowing scientists to gain insights into how deep-sea life responds and evolves under concentrated resource pulses. Meanwhile, whale fall research also has potential value in application. It reminds us that large cetaceans play a hidden yet important role in the Marine carbon cycle and the maintenance of deep-sea biodiversity. Protecting cetaceans and their habitats not only saves macroscopic species but also indirectly safeguards numerous strange lives that inhabit the dark deep sea and survive on whale falls. With the advancement of deep-sea technology and research methods, more breakthroughs are expected in whale fall research. For instance, the discovery of more whale falls in various regions will fill the biogeographic gap, long-term continuous observations will reveal the complete succession process, and molecular biological methods will uncover the secrets of the interaction between microorganisms and macroorganisms. This new knowledge will further enrich the theory of deep-sea ecology and provide scientific support for the protection of deep-sea ecosystems. In a sense, the "whale fall" contains the mystery of "all living things" - just as the popular science saying goes: "When a whale falls, all living things come to life." This brief yet splendid feast of life in the deep ocean is worthy of continuous exploration and cherishing by humanity. Acknowledgments The author appreciates two anonymous peer reviewers for their comments on the manuscript of this study. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The author affirms that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Aguzzi J., Fanelli E., Ciuffardi T., Schirone A., De Leo F., Doya C., Kawato M., Miyazaki M., Furushima Y., Costa C., and Fujiwara Y., 2018, Faunal activity rhythms influencing early community succession of an implanted whale carcass offshore Sagami Bay, Japan, Scientific Reports, 8(1): 11163. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-29431-5 Bolstad K.S.R., Amsler M.O., De Broyer C., Komoda M., and Iwasaki H., 2023, In-situ observations of an intact natural whale fall in Palmer Deep, Western Antarctic Peninsula, Polar Biology, 46(2): 123-132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-022-03109-1 Chen B., and Wang M., 2020, Whale fall: the creation of a unique marine ecosystem, International Journal of Marine Science, 10: 4. https://doi.org/10.5376/ijms.2020.10.0004
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