The scientist who decoded ocean food webs through the study of squid beaks
Years of Research
Squid Beaks in One Whale
Publications on Azorean Cephalopods
In the mid-Atlantic, where volcanic peaks emerge from oceanic depths, an elderly British scientist could regularly be found peering into the stomach contents of sperm whales. Malcolm Roy Clarke (1930-2013), a world-renowned teuthologist (squid specialist) and Fellow of the Royal Society, abandoned conventional retirement to dedicate his later years to unlocking the mysteries of the Azores' marine ecosystem 5 .
His story is one of scientific brilliance married to passionate mentorship, leaving an indelible mark on both our understanding of the ocean and the researchers who continue his work.
Clarke's fascination with the denizens of the deep began decades earlier on the bloody decks of Antarctic whaling ships. Yet, it was on the black cliffs of Pico Island that this softly spoken man would build not only a remarkable museum but also a thriving scientific legacy. He transformed the Azores from a mere research site into a living laboratory, empowering a generation of marine scientists and revealing the hidden connections between whales, squid, and the underwater mountains they call home 5 .
Born in the United Kingdom
Research on Antarctic whaling ships
First visit to the Azores
Formally retired but continued research
Permanently moved to Pico Island
Died on Pico Island, still actively working
When Malcolm Clarke first visited the Azores in 1981, the archipelago's research community was in its infancy. The University of the Azores had established its Department of Oceanography and Fisheries just five years earlier. Clarke saw past the limitations and recognized the region's extraordinary potential: here, deep ocean trenches came close to shore, and sperm whales regularly fed in view of land 3 .
Clarke recognized that the Azores offered unique access to deep-water ecosystems close to shore, making it an ideal natural laboratory for studying marine food webs.
He began studying the diet of sperm whales using individuals landed at the São Roque whaling station on Pico Island, establishing a collaboration with the local university that would span decades. After formally retiring in 1987, Clarke's curiosity didn't fade—it found a new home. He and his wife Dot purchased a house on Pico, permanently moving there in 2000. He became a visiting scholar at the University of the Azores, trading the formal structures of European institutions for the wild, immediate access to the ocean he loved 3 .
Unique proximity of deep-water ecosystems to shorelines
Regular whale feeding activities visible from land
Long-term partnership with University of the Azores
Clarke possessed a unique insight that would define his approach in the Azores: squid beaks found in predator stomachs could reveal entire ocean ecosystems. Unlike soft squid flesh, the hard, indigestible chitinous beaks accumulate in the stomachs of whales, sharks, and seabirds, each species bearing a distinct beak shape and size .
Clarke had pioneered this technique decades earlier, recognizing that these beaks served as biological archives. In one particularly striking example, he counted 18,000 squid beaks in the stomach of a single sperm whale caught off Madeira, some from giant squid 5 . In the Azores, he applied this method systematically, identifying prey species to build comprehensive food webs.
"Marine Azorean Foodwebs—The Known, the Unknown and the Unlikely" - Title of Clarke's 1994 talk outlining his vision for understanding the Azorean marine ecosystem by tracing species interrelationships 3 .
His approach was elegantly captured in a 1994 talk entitled "Marine Azorean Foodwebs—The Known, the Unknown and the Unlikely," where he outlined his vision for understanding the Azorean marine ecosystem by tracing species interrelationships 3 . He argued that only by understanding these connections could scientists predict how environmental or anthropogenic changes might affect the ocean's delicate balance.
| Predator Studied | Primary Squid Prey Identified | Ecological Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) | Various deep-water squid species | Revealed diving patterns and deep-sea ecosystem structure |
| Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) | Pelagic squid | Understanding mid-water predation |
| Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) | Mixed squid species | Commercial fish diet and ecosystem role |
| Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) | Small cephalopods | Seabird feeding ecology and migration |
| Orange Roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) | Deep-sea squid | Deep-water seamount ecosystem dynamics |
Clarke's methodology combined traditional field techniques with innovative approaches to understanding marine food webs through the analysis of predator stomach contents.
Clarke's second major contribution in the Azores was his investigation into the ecology of cephalopods associated with seamounts—underwater mountains that rise from the abyssal plains but do not reach the surface. These features had long been recognized as biological hotspots, but their specific relationship with squid communities remained poorly understood 3 .
Using decades of accumulated data, Clarke revised the scientific understanding of how cephalopods interact with seamounts. He categorized species into ecological groups based on their behavior and ecology around these submerged peaks, creating a classification system that helped explain why certain squid species concentrated in these areas and how this influenced their availability to predators 3 7 .
Seamounts act as biological hotspots, concentrating nutrients and marine life, making them crucial feeding grounds for many predators.
This work proved vital for understanding the entire Azores ecosystem, as many of the region's iconic species—from sperm whales to swordfish—depend on seamount-associated squid as a food source.
| Time Period | Total Publications on Azorean Cephalopods | Clarke's Publications | Contribution Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981-2012 | 67 | 14 | ~20% |
Perhaps the most tangible example of Clarke's dedication to education was the Third International Workshop on Cephalopod Beaks held on Faial Island in 2007. Clarke, then in his late seventies, served as the lead instructor, teaching students from multiple countries the intricate art of beak identification 3 6 .
Clarke's workshop demonstrated the meticulous process he had developed over decades:
"Happy as a child when handling a gooey Haliphron atlanticus" - Rui Prieto recalling Clarke's boundless enthusiasm 5 .
Rui Prieto of the University of the Azores recalled Clarke's boundless enthusiasm, noting he was "happy as a child when handling a gooey Haliphron atlanticus" (a seven-arm octopus), even at sea where he couldn't wait until returning to land to examine specimens 5 .
In his final decade, Clarke extended his passion beyond traditional science. With his wife Dot, he dedicated himself to building and running a museum on Pico Island that showcased the biology of the sperm whale and its intricate relationship with squid 1 3 .
What began in their garage evolved into a remarkable cultural and educational institution featuring a life-size mural of the largest female sperm whale found off the Azores, a full-sized skeletal whale modeled in metal tubing, and a giant fabric squid sewn to exacting dimensions by Dot herself 5 .
Visitors to the museum witnessed Clarke's unique ability to make science accessible. He would explain how whales see only in blue-green spectra because these colors work best in deep waters, or how whale bones are filled with oil—if they contained air, they would explode during deep dives 5 . This museum became the physical embodiment of his life's work: a place where the public could grasp the wonder of these deep-sea creatures.
"A very generous man; he was always giving of his time and willing to share his knowledge and experience"
Malcolm Clarke's impact extended far beyond his publications. He served on the advisory board of the journal Arquipelago—Life and Marine Sciences, collaborated with the regional cetacean stranding network, and provided informal mentorship that empowered the recently established Azorean research community 3 . By connecting local scientists with international institutions and generously sharing his knowledge, he helped build capacity that continues to benefit the region today.
Clarke's informal mentorship helped establish and empower the Azorean marine research community, creating a lasting scientific legacy that continues today.
When Clarke died in 2013 on his beloved Pico Island, he was still actively working, his enthusiasm for his subjects undimmed. Hal Whitehead of Dalhousie University noted that Clarke had been "for many years our main route into the strange world of the big animals in the deep oceans" 5 .
Through the researchers he mentored, the museum he built, and the scientific pathways he opened, Malcolm Clarke ensured that his curiosity would long outlive him, continuing to illuminate the dark waters between the islands he called home.