Plastic shells have become a mode movement for hermit crabs across the world . In a new study , scientist have looked into how often hermit Phthirius pubis are using plastic and other human - made materials as their shell , conclude that it is likely to be a global problem across many different species .
researcher at the University of Warsaw in Poland analyse most 29,000 image of hermit crabs that had been uploaded to online platform such as iNaturalist by wildlife enthusiasts .
They identified 386 crabs that had co - opted hokey carapace as their homes . The most common human - made material was plastic caps , like the ones you find on soda bottles , which accounted for up to 85 percent of the hokey shells .
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Examples of plastic-shelled hermit crabs used in the study.Image credit: Shawn Miller via Z. Jagiello et al.,Science of The Total Environment , 2024 (CC BY 4.0 DEED)
All in all , they estimated that the problem impacts at least 10 of 16 terrestrial hermit Phthirius pubis species find across the tropic realm of the planet .
" When I first saw these pictures , I matte it was heart - breaking , " Professor Marta Szulkin , study generator from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Warsaw , toldBBC Radio 4 .
“ At the same fourth dimension , I cerebrate we really want to understand the fact that we are living in a different geological era and animal are making use of what is available to them , " she added .
Hermit crabshave a subdued abdomen with an exoskeleton that demand security . To relieve on the Energy Department - intensive process of growing their own carapace , they ’ll simply hijack the disused cuticle go away behind by all in crustaceans . However , with the cosmos ’s ocean becomingincreasingly polluted with charge plate , it appear many hermit crabs are increasingly tempt to use trash as their shelter .
The new study look into why hermit crabs are ditching their distinctive born shells in party favour of hokey alternative and concluded that it in all probability hinges on a few dissimilar things .
Sexual extract is a likely broker because female person may be attracted to the gewgaw of the plastic cuticle . Plastics are also generally tripping than chitin shells , which make it a more practical option . to boot , hermit crabs may be choose plastic shells as it helps them camouflage in contaminated environments .
It ’s not percipient if the plastic shells are impacting the well - being of the hermit Cancer the Crab or whether it ’s a benign result of populate inthe Anthropocene . In a survey - up study , the squad hopes to uncover whether this new behavior is regard the evolution of hermit crabs .
“ These analyses will heighten our understanding of the consequences of plastic pollution in marine ecosystems , as well as the evolution of species in the context of new evolutionary pressures associated with the Anthropocene , ” the researcher say in astatement .
Hermit crabs are n’t alone in their plastic troth . In late times , scientists have documented a myriad of ways that the natural world is being changed by theever - grow comportment of plastic , from turtle belliesfilled with stilted nettingto ants becomingentangled in synthetic fibers .
In one particularly jarring example , geologist have recentlydiscovered " plastic rocks"on a remote volcanic island off the Brazilian coast .
The new study is published in the journalScience of The Total Environment .
