A study published in the journal Biology Letters has found that exposure to microplastics can disrupt a hermit crab's ability to choose a shell.
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RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN A study published in the journal Biology Letters has found that exposure to microplastics can disrupt a hermit crab's ability to choose a shell.
Researchers from Queen's University Belfast and Liverpool John Moores University placed 29 female hermit crabs into a tank containing microplastics.
A control group of 35 crabs was placed into a tank with no microplastics.
After five days the crabs were moved into lower-quality shells and presented with the option to choose a higher-quality shell.
Only nine of the crabs that had been exposed to microplastics moved into the new shells, compared to 21 from the control group.
This suggests exposure to microplastics impairs the crabs' cognition, and that microplastics in general can have important effects on an animal's behavior.
Gareth Arnott, co-author of the new research from Queen's University Belfast, told the Guardian he was surprised by the results.
"We hypothesize that either some aspect of the polyethylene is getting into them to affect their decision making, or else it is an indirect effect that the presence of the plastic in the tank might be influencing their feeding behavior, for example," he said.
RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1.
Hermit crab changing shells 2.
One group of hermit crabs exposed to microplastics, control group not exposed 3.
Hermit crabs exposed to microplastics less likely to explore and move into optimal shell 4.
Hermit crab feeding on ocean floor contaminated by microplastics VOICEOVER (in English): "Hermit crabs do not grow their own shells but instead use shells from other marine creatures, typically those of sea snails, to protect themselves.
As they grow they swap shells for ones that are a better fit." "Researchers from Queen's University Belfast and Liverpool John Moores University placed 29 female hermit crabs into a tank containing seawater, seaweed and 4mm-diameter polyethylene beads.
A control group of 35 crabs was placed into a tank with only seawater and seaweed." "After five days the crabs were moved into lower-quality shells and presented with the option to choose a higher-quality shell.
Only 10 of the crabs that had been exposed to microplastics explored the more ideal shell, compared to 25 crabs from the control group.
Only nine of the crabs that had been exposed to microplastics moved into the new shells, compared to 21 from the control group." "This suggests exposure to microplastics impairs the crabs' cognition, and that microplastics in general can have important effects on an animal's behavior." SOURCES: The Guardian, Biology Letters https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/29/microplastics-disrupt-hermit-crabs-ability-to-choose-shell-study-suggests https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2020.0030 *** For story suggestions please contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw For technical and editorial support, please contact: Asia: +61 2 93 73 1841 Europe: +44 20 7542 7599 Americas and Latam: +1 800 738 8377
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND — A study published in the journal Biology Letters has found that exposure to microplastics can disrupt..