Hermit crabs nest in waste due to rising plastic pollution

Soft-bodied terrestrial hermit crabs, which live near water in tropical regions of the world, nest in plastic waste, which accounts for 85% of marine pollution.

Unlike other species within the same family, hermit crabs lack natural protection and seek refuge in discarded mollusk shells. Interestingly, a group of hermit crabs has been observed showing a preference for artificial shells made of plastic waste.

According to the results of a scientific study conducted jointly by the University of Warsaw and Poznan University of Life Sciences in Poland and published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, it was revealed that terrestrial hermit crabs (coenobitidae) nest in plastic waste for many reasons, not just because it is easy.

Plastic waste is often preferred by mating females in crabs, who often favor artificial shells for protecting their soft abdominal region, known as the pleon. Other factors include, the lighter weight of artificial shells, potentially offering energy benefits. Additionally, the scent of dimethyl sulfide on the shell and the hypothesis that artificial shells may serve as more effective camouflage in polluted areas have been identified as aspects requiring further in-depth investigation.

The growing reliance on artificial shells is also attributed to the diminishing availability of gastropod shells, a trend driven by local human activities.

By adopting an Internet Ecology (iEcology) approach, the Polish scientific team identified that hermit crabs, specifically Coenobita purpureus, were utilizing plastic waste as shells on the beaches of Okinawa. The initial observation stemmed from a photograph posted by photographer Shawn Miller on his blog in 2014.

The team then examined images posted on various online platforms and matched their findings with a literature review to quantify the behavior of hermit crabs.

Source: Newsroom