Are Cetacea ecologically important?

Abstract

In undisturbed ecosystems, cetacean biomass is similar to that of other smaller sizes classes and cetaceans may be useful indicators of ecosystem health and productivity. Cetaceans are important in energy flux within marine and selected freshwater systems, but usually do not effect nutrient cycling to a significant degree. Cetacean carcasses provide important food sources for terrestrial and benthic scavengers. Feeding grey disturb local benthic environments on a scale equivalent to major geological forces. Living cetaceans are colonized by a diverse fauna of commensal and parasitic invertebrates. Seabirds and some fishes benefit from feeding associations with cetaceans....