A new scientific study measures the deadly toll plastics and other pollution are taking on hermit crabs — an important part of marine ecosystems — on remote islands that should be paradise.
"It is inevitable that these creatures will interact with and be affected by plastic pollution, although ours is one of the first studies to provide quantitative data on such impacts," she said."They are an important part of marine ecosystems that humans rely on for fishing, recreation and tourism, so ultimately the impacts may also be economic"
Researchers from IMAS intend to increase the breadth of their research to look at other locations around the world. "Our study is the first to document the mortality of hermit crabs due to beach debris, but the broader global picture remains unknown," Dr Lavers said. "However, it is likely that the mortality of hermit crabs across the world's beaches is substantial, and further investigation is required to inform a broader understanding of the scale and implications of their loss."
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