When marine biologist Eddie Kisfaludy received a call about a dead dolphin he knew it would be perfect for his project.
The National Geographic grantee wanted to record what happens in the deep ocean when a dolphin or other large maringe mammal dies.
To this end he and his team anchored the remains on the bottom and then used a series of custom time lapse cameras to record how the body decomposed over time.
They wanted to find out exactly what happens, whether bacteria would cover it or would a large shark come and take chunks.
What transpired was six months of the dolphin transforming into a miniature eco system, attracting lots of different animals. From crabs, to medium-sized fish and octopus, all manner of creatures found substance from the dead dolphin.
The clip highlights how the planet recycles everything whether that is ancient seabeds being pushed up to make the highest mountains in the world to a humble dolphin in its death giving life to dozens of other sea creatures.
You can find out more about National Geographic’s research work here.