Scientists have long known that whales contribute to ocean health by releasing nutrient-rich feces, but new research reveals another vital factor: whale urine. A study published in Nature Communications shows that whale urine, like their feces, is rich in essential nutrients such as nitrogen and therefore plays a critical role in fertilizing coastal and open ocean ecosystems.
According to Joe Roman, a biologist at the University of Vermont, animals basically act as the planet’s circulatory system, moving nutrients across vast distances. Whales, for example, feed in nutrient-dense deep waters and then release these nutrients at the surface, creating what Roman and his colleagues call a „whale pump“ that boosts plankton growth and supports marine food chains. Their latest study focuses on the „great whale conveyor belt“ - a phenomenon where whales transport nutrients thousands of miles during their seasonal migrations.
Using data from six migrating whale species, the team found that whales can transport around 4,000 tons of nitrogen and 45,000 tons of biomass each year. Before industrial whaling, these numbers might have been three times higher. Interestingly, whales don’t just distribute nutrients with their urine; their migrations concentrate nutrients in breeding grounds, providing essential support to ecosystems like coral reefs. The sheer size and behavior of whales mean they impact ocean ecosystems on a planetary scale—something previously thought unique to humans. But researchers now view whales as key players in sustaining ocean health, a fact that fundamentally changes how we understand the balance of marine ecosystems.
Source
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/03/how-whale-urine-benefits-the-ocean-ecosystem/