Posted on 02/27/2019 9:41:09 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
VICTORIA - Crabs that have a normal diet of a type of plankton have been seen munching on methane-filled bacteria off B.C.s coast in what experts say could be their way of adapting to climate change.
Researchers with Oceans Networks Canada and Oregon State University discovered the snow crabs using other food sources because their main meal may be disappearing with a warmer climate.
The crabs were previously thought to exclusively eat phytoplankton but researchers said in a study published this month in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science that there is first evidence that the commercial species is finding some of its nutrition from other food sources.
Senior scientist at Oceans Networks Canada, an initiative of the University of Victoria, and the studys co-author, Fabio De Leo, said by collecting these specimens researchers can learn how a variety of sea-dwelling species are adapting to ongoing changes linked to climate change.
It was really funny when we first saw this, he said. The crab had accumulation of methane under its body and was sifting through the mud trying to collect the bubbles and they got trapped under its (shell) and then it got a lift off from the sediment.
Climate change models show that as the oceans get warmer there will be less of that food for the crabs.
The crab might be eating more of the methane-filled bacteria and less of the phytoplankton, De Leo said.
De Leo said theres a food-chain connection and it means humans are benefiting from the methane fossil fuel.
Its bubbling out of the sea floor and the crabs are using that and humans are using the crabs as a source of protein.
(Excerpt) Read more at vancouversun.com ...
There are two species of snow crab, chionoecetes bairdi and chionoecetes opilio. The Bairdi is the larger of the two species reaching sizes of 3 to 5 pounds while the opilio only reaches 1.5 to 2.5 pounds. The Bairdi Snow Crab is also marketed under the trade name Tanner Crab.”
At the depth at which snow crabs are found in the north Pacific, there is very little deviation in water temperature no matter what time of year.....
What nonsense - most crab species are exclusively meat eaters or opportunists . not vegetarians!
This must be a Veggie Crab which comes pre-made in salad form especially for virtue signally liberals and “progressives”. /s
Oh Wow, never heard of this before!-)
Scientists Discover Massive Methane-Based Ecosystem
It’s only the third cold seep discovered off the U.S. Atlantic Coast, and it could help researchers understand how life exists in harsh environments, including potentially on other planets.
By Shaunacy Ferro May 28, 2013
Is methane and intoxicant for crabs?
Yeah, and the hangover makes them crabby..
There has been climate change since there was a climate. Of course plants and animals adapted to the climate! They had no choice! A change in the climate killed the dinosaurs.
So climate change is not a problem after all!
I'm on the seafood diet -- see food, eat it.
:-))
A manatee is a sea cow......Oh the Hugh Manatee
It’s from all the Crabohydrates.
Eat chitin die.
I wonder who's the middleman?
This is the danger of ‘scientific’ fantasies.
The production of food from methane is a worthy study. The search for ‘globul warming’ is a waste.
Choosing the second over the first hurts mankind.
Love just those kinds of old Sci Fi.
Need a lot of stcock footage of the Space Race too!
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