Whales, manta rays and whale sharks are all eaters of animal plankton or small fish, themselves huge consumers of vegetable plankton. These marine algae produce half of the oxygen on earth and capture 40% of the carbon dioxide. But the global role of the Mastodonts is hardly believable. By swallowing plankton and the small animals that feed on them, these giants capture and store carbon in their fat. When they die, they sink into the abyss where the carbon remains trapped for thousands of years. For example, one whale captures as much carbon each year as a thousand trees. These giants are real allies in regulating the climate and restoring reef productivity. The programme for identifying these new feeding areas is easily reproducible in all the areas concerned around the world.
Planet Reef was broadcast on SBS ONE at Thursday 10 October 2024, 06:05.
