Hermit crabs ‘sexually excited’ by pollution

• Oceans around the world are facing a plastic pollution crisis. But there’s one species that may be getting a little too excited about it: hermit crabs.

A chemical that is leaked from plastic dumped in the ocean is probably arousing hermit crabs, according to researchers studying the impact of climate change, plastic and other molecules in the ocean on marine species.

The team of scientists from England’s University of Hull examined 40 crabs found in the waters off the Yorkshire coast and found signs that the crustaceans may be “sexually excited” by oleamide — an additive released by plastics found under the sea.

Oleamide elevates the respiration rate of hermit crabs, which indicates excitement, researchers said, adding that the product is already considered to be a sex pheromone for some insects. “Our study shows that oleamide attracts hermit crabs,” doctoral candidate Paula Schirrmacher said in a statement released Tuesday.

“Respiration rate increases significantly in response to low concentrations of oleamide, and hermit crabs show a behavioural attraction comparable to their response to a feeding stimulant,” she said.

Schirrmacher noted oleamide has “a striking resemblance to oleic acid, a chemical released by arthropods during decomposition,” which could explain why it is mistaken for food and ingested by animals — which potentially increases consumption of microplastics.

The new findings come as governments around the world continue to grapple with the major issue of climate change and its impact on the planet.

At a recent three-day summit in Cornwall, England, leaders from the Group of Seven gathered to discuss the growing crisis along with other pressing topics. During the June meeting, leaders pledged more-ambitious climate goals and reaffirmed their support to be carbon-neutral by 2050.

Without action, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans by 2050, a study published by the World Economic Forum in 2016 warned.

More than eight million metric tons of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans every year, according to the World Wildlife Fund, which estimated that at least 90 per cent of birds have plastic in their stomachs and that one of every two marine turtles have consumed plastic.

“The problem of plastic in nature, particularly in our oceans, is a global crisis,” the organization said in 2019 as it called plastic-free solutions by 2030.

COMPARABLE TO THEIR RESPONSE TO A FEEDING STIMULANT.