Succession in a Marine Ecosystem
large whale dies
it falls to the bottom of the ocean
it attracts scavengers & decomposers
hagfishes
sharks
amphipods
eat decaying whale
after tissues have been eaten,carcass supports aquatic animals
whale's decomposition enriches sediments w/ nutrients
forms oasis of sediment dwellers
whale's skeleton remains
heterotrophic bacteria produces oils inside bones.
serve as energy for other bacteria
because of chemosynthetic bacteria
community
limpets
mussells
crabs
sea snails