The cold Antarctic shelf waters have proved uninhabitable for certain predators, such as different species of crabs. This absence of crushing predators has allowed the evolution of a unique Antarctic sea-floor fauna, unfortunately as a result, these fauna have little resistance against crushing predators. New studies show that a warming climate has allowed a certain species of King crabs,
Neolithodes yaldwyni, to move 120 km across the continental shelf in West Antarctica and establish a reproductive colony in Palmer Deep, along the west Antarctic Peninsula. Scientists used a remotely operated vehicle to explore the Palmer Deep, and found that the king crabs were acting as "ecosystem engineers", altering basic habitat structures at the ocean bottom. Echinoderms, such as brittle stars, sea lilies, asteroids and sea urchins, which are generally common and diverse in Antarctic waters, were completely absent from the crab's new territory. Scientists also found that the Antarctic waters were warming rapidly enough to allow the king crabs to colonize the west Antarctic Peninsula shelf at depths of 400-600 in one or two decades. This colonization could have devastating affects on the fragile, ocean bottom Antarctic sea-life.
This article is an example of discovery science because of the lack of an experiment performed. This article is about an observation, and the conclusion reached.
This particular article is important for people, because it shows an obvious effect of warming climates. It is causing drastic changes in ecosystems, causing animals to venture into areas they have never been in before.
Title: King Crabs Threaten Seafloor Life Near Antarctica
Author: University of Hawaii
Date: September 8, 2011
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