‘Zombie worms’ have vanished off the B.C. coast, and that’s a nasty factor

‘Zombie worms’ have vanished off the B.C. coast, and that’s a nasty factor

Published 2:30 pm Thursday, October 30, 2025

A decade-long marine experiment off the coast of British Columbia has raised alarm amongst scientists.

After it did not detect a key deep-sea species recognized for decomposing whale bones, scientists are warning that their absence might sign an ecosystem collapse triggered by local weather change.

In an experiment, researchers from the University of Victoria and Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) positioned humpback whale bones almost 1,000 metres beneath the floor at Barkley Canyon, roughly 100km southwest of Tofino.

After monitoring the world for 10 years, utilizing high-resolution underwater cameras, scientists discovered no traces of the Osedax worm – nicknamed the “zombie worm” or “bone devourer.”

This discovering, or lack thereof, has confirmed to be troubling, stated ONC senior employees scientist Fabio De Leo, noting it might be defined by the low concentrations of oxygen current on the remark website.

Despite having no mouth or digestive system, Osedax worms bore their root-like buildings into bones, extracting vitamins with the assistance of micro organism. De Leo added that their position is important in recycling whale stays and supporting deep-sea biodiversity.

Whale carcasses, sinking to the seafloor, present wealthy meals sources that may maintain distinctive marine communities for many years. However, the absence of zombie worms factors to a breakdown on this course of.

Barkley Canyon is positioned in a naturally low-oxygen zone which researchers say is increasing because the oceans heat. These increasing oxygen minimal zones, pushed by local weather change, are lowering habitat viability for species comparable to Osedax and wood-boring Xylophaga bivalves, one other key decomposer that was present in unusually low numbers through the research.

“Basically, we’re talking about potential species loss,” De Leo stated, including that grownup Osedax, who develop on whale bones, spawn their larvae that drift lengthy oceanic currents to colonize different whale falls. “These island habitats will not be connected anymore, and then you could start losing a diversity of Osedax species across regional spatial scales.”

Preliminary knowledge from one other ONC analysis website suggests the decline might not be restricted to at least one location.

Researchers will launch extra findings from an ongoing whale fall research at Clayoquot Slope within the coming months.