The importance of whale urine for the planet: a thousand litres a day
A study published in the journal Nature has revealed the importance of whales to the Earth. Specifically, their urine. The approximately 1,000 liters per day generated by these cetaceans are key to the balance of ecosystems. The reason is the enormous amount of nutrients they transport in the oceans, something that becomes even more relevant due to their migratory behavior. The report highlights in particular the amount of nitrogen they transport, which it puts at 3,784 tons per year. "This figure could have been three times higher before commercial whaling," the researchers explain.The study insists on the importance of these large cetaceans transporting huge quantities of nutrients and other key elements from high to low latitudes. "They have the potential to transport elements in their bodies from highly productive feeding areas (...) through urination, defecation and lactation," says the study, […]
