Decade-long studies off the coast of Canada have revealed a frightening picture.
On the ocean floor, among the massive skeletons of whales, astonishing creatures known as Osedax bone-eating worms are disappearing. These organisms, discovered in the early 21st century, are scavengers. However, scientists are now finding their traces less and less frequently, and this is a troubling signal for the entire ecosystem, writes the portal Popular Science.
No Mouth, But Not Without Appetite
The wonder of these creatures lies in their biology. They have neither mouth nor intestines. Instead, they send their root-like appendages into the bone tissue, dissolving it with acid. The absorbed nutrients are processed by symbiotic bacteria living in the worm's body. It remains a mystery to science how exactly this exchange occurs.
Empty Skeletons
Decade-long studies off the coast of Canada have revealed a frightening picture. There were no such worms found on the bones of humpback whales in the Barkley Canyon. Scientists believe this is not a coincidence, but a systemic failure. Experts link the disappearance to the expansion of underwater "dead zones" – areas with low oxygen content. Migration routes of whales pass through such areas. When animal carcasses sink to the bottom, they no longer become centers of life for zombie worms.
Ecological Chain at Risk
The disappearance of these "bone-eaters" poses serious consequences. Whale remains are oases in the deep-sea desert, springboards for the colonization of hundreds of species. Osedax larvae, traveling vast distances, populated new territories. If this connection is severed, biodiversity over vast areas will suffer. Other important species, such as wood-boring Xylophaga, which are also sensitive to low oxygen levels, will be at risk.
Useful to Know
Osedax are a striking example of evolutionary adaptation. They have specialized so much in dissolving bones that they have lost the classic digestive system.
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