Whale Migration Carries Nutrients

Whale Migration Carries Nutrients

When it comes to the movement of nutrients in the ocean, we think of run-off from rivers, upwelling along coasts, and convective currents. We don’t typically think about animal migrations, but a new study of baleen whales (including species like humpbacks and right whales) suggests that these massive mammals provide a small but critical spreading service. These whales feed in cold, nutrient-rich waters, like those in the Arctic, then travel thou…