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London (PA Media\/dpa) – Hermit crabs are attracted to an additive released by plastics in the oceans that could lead to them mistaking pollution for food, researchers have found.<\/p>\nLondon (PA Media\/dpa) – Hermit crabs are attracted to an additive released by plastics in the oceans that could lead to them mistaking pollution for food, researchers have found.<\/p>\n
A team at the University of Hull has been studying the combined impact of climate change, plastic and other molecules on marine species.<\/p>\n
Studies of the waters off the Yorkshire coast revealed that a plastic additive called oleamide elicits hyperactivity in hermit crabs, with their respiration rate increasing in response to low concentrations.<\/p>\n
The team found that oleamide can be mistaken for the chemical released by food sources during decomposition, meaning the crabs may travel a distance in search of a meal, only to discover plastic.<\/p>\n
PhD candidate Paula Schirrmacher, who was part of the research team, said: \u00abOur study shows that oleamide attracts hermit crabs.<\/p>\n
\u00abRespiration rate increases significantly in response to low concentrations of oleamide, and hermit crabs show a behavioural attraction comparable to their response to a feeding stimulant.<\/p>\n
\u00abOleamide also has a striking resemblance to oleic acid, a chemical released by arthropods during decomposition.<\/p>\n
\u00abAs scavengers, hermit crabs may misidentify oleamide as a food source.<\/p>\n
\u00abThis research demonstrates that additive leaching may play a significant role in the attraction of marine life to plastic.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Oleamide has previously been identified as a major constituent in the sex pheromone of cleaner shrimp – a distant relative of the hermit crab – and could be used for chemical signalling in other species, the report found.<\/p>\n
The researchers said that plastic additives mimicking marine infochemicals may be a problem not limited to hermit crabs and the odour associated with food and needed further investigations to initiate mitigation measures.<\/p>\n
Schirrmacher’s research on hermit crabs in Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire also examined how hermit crabs detect smells in acidified oceans and found that the creatures were attracted to a chemical cue known as PEA (2-phenylethylamine).<\/p>\n
PEA is known to warn mammals and sea creatures of predators and its effectiveness may be increased in an acidified ocean, the scientists said.<\/p>\n
Researcher Dr Christina Roggatz said: \u00abIn short, pH can make or break successful communication in the ocean.\u00bb<\/p>\n
The university said another study found that rising sea temperatures, combined with increased plastic pollution, can confuse the breeding cycles of blue mussels and affect reproduction rates.<\/p>\n
Research showed that male blue mussels were affected by increased temperature, while females were sensitive to DEHP – a toxic chemical found in many plastics.<\/p>\n
Luana Fiorella Mincarelli, a PhD student, said: \u00abIt is critically important to understand how plastic additives work on molecular levels, especially on reproductive success.<\/p>\n
\u00abWe have found that their toxic effect can be amplified in a climate change scenario.\u00bb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
London (PA Media\/dpa) – Hermit crabs are attracted to an additive released by plastics in the oceans that could lead to them mistaking pollution for food, researchers have found. A team at the University of Hull has been studying the combined impact of climate change, plastic and other molecules on marine species. Studies of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1096783,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1096782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actualidad"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t