Editing Whaling (section)

=== Effects on global carbon cycles ===
Scientists have analyzed the ability of the oceans to [[Carbon sequestration|sequester atmospheric carbon]] before industrial whaling and in modern times, hundreds of years after the most active whaling periods. Focusing on the amount of carbon stored in baleen whales, scientists determined that large marine mammals hold over 9 million less tons of carbon in the ocean than during the pre whaling era (9.1 x 10^6 tons).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pershing |first1=Andrew J. |last2=Christensen |first2=Line B. |last3=Record |first3=Nicholas R. |last4=Sherwood |first4=Graham D. |last5=Stetson |first5=Peter B. |date=2010-08-26 |title=The Impact of Whaling on the Ocean Carbon Cycle: Why Bigger Was Better |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=5 |issue=8 |pages=e12444 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0012444 |doi-access=free |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=2928761 |pmid=20865156|bibcode=2010PLoSO...512444P }}</ref>

Whales play an important role in the [[carbon cycle]] in life and death. Living whales cycle carbon and nitrogen throughout the [[water column]] via [[whale feces]] where it can contribute to [[Primary production|primary productivity]] at the surface. In death, their carcasses can become part of a [[whale fall]] and sink to the bottom, bringing their carbon with them to help form a temporary ecosystem at the ocean floor. Despite rebounding whale numbers after the international ban on whaling, climate change and rising carbon levels continue to hinder the amount of carbon sequestered by whales.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Durfort |first1=Anaëlle |last2=Mariani |first2=Gaël |last3=Tulloch |first3=Vivitskaia |last4=Savoca |first4=Matthew S. |last5=Troussellier |first5=Marc |last6=Mouillot |first6=David |date=2022-11-09 |title=Recovery of carbon benefits by overharvested baleen whale populations is threatened by climate change |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |language=en |volume=289 |issue=1986 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2022.0375 |issn=0962-8452 |pmc=9627705 |pmid=36321488}}</ref>