Samenvatting

This thesis is a literature review on the impact of global warming on the great whale pump in Europe. Global warming is known to have an effect on different ecosystems around the world. However, what is largely unknown is the impact of global warming on marine systems and specifically large whales that have a major role within these systems. This report attempts to gather information and create understanding where information is missing through a literature study. In addition, the report seeks to encourage others to identify the impacts of global warming on large whales and marine ecosystems. Great whales transfer nutrients like iron and carbon by feeding at depths and defaecating and urinating at low-latitude areas. It is known that this great whale pump positively affects nutrient dispersal in different pelagic layers. It thus provides an important ecosystem service by sustaining productivity to core feeder species like phytoplankton, which are at the bottom of the food chain. It is yet unknown how global warming affects this process. The results of this study showed that global warming leads to an increase in sea surface temperature (SST), with negative effects on sea ice, habitat availability and distribution, food availability and the overall health of great whales.