Identify 337 stranded whales that change the Chilean bay

Identify hundreds of collective dead sei whales and drift into fjords in Chile that change the coastal landscape for a long time.

Scientists found the death of a series of 337 horny whales in a remote bay in Patagonia, Chile, in 2015, according to National Geographic. Later research revealed they were sei whales , a horny whale species in the endangered group. At that time, the cause of mass whales died was not clear. Now, researchers consider it also known as contributing to the event.

Katie McConnell, a marine biologist at the University of Oregon, discovered whale carcasses as she and her colleagues identified and cataloged invertebrate marine animals in Golfo de Penas. McConnell's group decided to change the target and document the stranding event, including placing 16 fast forward cameras to record decayed whale bodies during a two-year period.

"In the deep sea, every dead whale is a big event. They can promote life to multiply and provide food for many animals for a long time, but no one really knows what happens. out on the beach, " McConnell said. Whales drifting ashore where humans live are often removed after a short time, so the stranding event in Patagonia provides a rare opportunity for long-term study of hundreds of whale carcasses.

The stranding event in Patagonia provides a rare opportunity for long-term study of hundreds of whale carcasses.

The camera revealed the birds quickly landing on the whale carcass to feed. The bacteria activity on whale skin is very fast. At high tide, some whale carcasses are partially submerged, allowing snails, sea urchins and many other invertebrates to clear excess meat, making room for algae to grow on bone.

The scene analysis shows that the decomposition process consists of 5 stages. The first three stages are the fastest, the most bloated and automatically decomposing, while the latter two are post-decomposition and dry bodies can last for years until the bones are washed away.