LA TIMES SCIENCE : First Antarctic whale skeleton turns up nine new deep-sea species link to full article and pictures! By Amina Khan
"Whale falls — when the body of a deceased whale sinks to the bottom of the ocean — can become an oasis rich in resources for deep-sea life. That ecosystem develops in stages: First, swimmers such as sharks, hagfish and crustaceans will gnaw off the flesh. Next, other hungry critters will break down the remaining soft tissues. Then chemical-consuming microorganisms will break down the waste sulfide left by previous generations, a process that may take decades."
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