Every year, thousands of whales, dolphins and porpoises wash up on shore. Although even healthy cetaceans beach themselves occasionally, many that end up ashore are either sick or already dead. For centuries, the carcasses from these beachings, also known as strandings, have provided food, tools and other services to humans.
Our own interactions with these carcasses, however, are just one part of the story — they also provide a host of services to marine life in coastal areas. But human interference, from hunting during the whaling era to more modern disposal practices, have deeply altered the ecosystem services these strandings would otherwise provide, according to a study published in the journal Ecosystem Services in April. The study authors argue that a better understanding of the vital role that cetacean carcasses play — and incorporating that knowledge into coastal management strategies — could help preserve their ecological benefits.
