Over 500k crabs TRAPPED by plastic waste on remote islands
- 4 years ago
HOBART, AUSTRALIA — A new study led by the University of Tasmania has found that more than 560,000 hermit crabs have died from being trapped in plastic waste on the remote Cocos Keeling and Henderson Islands.
Scientists surveyed sites on both the islands for plastic debris and found open plastic containers across the islands. The study also accounted for the number of trapped crabs, both dead and alive, found inside the plastic containers.
Researchers said that the piles of plastic waste present on the island beaches create physical obstacles as well as traps for the hermit crabs.
The problem is exacerbated as hermit crabs don't have shells of their own, which means that they need to track down other dead crabs via their odor in order to acquire them.
In one example, researchers found that this led to 526 crabs being trapped in a single plastic container.
In a University of Tasmania news release scientists said that these hermit crabs are important as they help disperse seeds, fertilize the soil in tropical environments and form an integral part of the marine ecosystem.
Scientists surveyed sites on both the islands for plastic debris and found open plastic containers across the islands. The study also accounted for the number of trapped crabs, both dead and alive, found inside the plastic containers.
Researchers said that the piles of plastic waste present on the island beaches create physical obstacles as well as traps for the hermit crabs.
The problem is exacerbated as hermit crabs don't have shells of their own, which means that they need to track down other dead crabs via their odor in order to acquire them.
In one example, researchers found that this led to 526 crabs being trapped in a single plastic container.
In a University of Tasmania news release scientists said that these hermit crabs are important as they help disperse seeds, fertilize the soil in tropical environments and form an integral part of the marine ecosystem.