A new study found that whales play an important ecological role in the discharge of their urine and feces, through which they release nitrogen and iron into the ocean ecosystem. (treehugger.com)
If they continue to disappear, she said, the remaining mammals would prove poor stand - ins for important ecological roles. (sciencedaily.com)
Those marine worms play a key ecological role as an important source of food for other animals. (sciencedaily.com)