English Channel stops new rockpool species reaching UK
St Piran's hermit crab
Credit: Christophe Patterson
The English Channel prevents many rockpool species “making the jump” from Europe to the UK, new research shows.
With sea temperatures expected to rise due to climate change, many rockpool species in south-west England are threatened.
Creatures from warmer waters to the south could replace them – but the study, by the University of Exeter, suggests Channel currents mean many animals and plants cannot survive the crossing.
The study focussed on the St Piran’s hermit crab, which appeared in Cornwall in 2016 and was named by viewers of BBC Springwatch.
“The crab larvae almost certainly came from Brittany in northern France,” said Christophe Patterson, of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall.
“We modelled how ocean currents could carry larvae from Brittany to the south-west UK, and we found very few opportunities for this to happen.
“Only once in every ten years would the currents be suitable for the tiny St Piran’s crab larvae to cross the Channel.
“Even on these currents, the time it takes for larvae to be carried to the UK is much longer than most other species’ larvae can survive.
“Crabs and other crustaceans have the best chance, as many have larvae that could survive the crossing, but other groups like sea snails, sponges and seaweed just don’t live for long enough in open water to get here.”
Over the last 60 years, the sea temperature of the south-west UK has fluctuated. Despite a slight decline in recent years, average temperatures are expected to increase.
When the temperature rises, species that normally live in colder water begin to disappear, but when the temperature falls, they can come back.
“Our research suggests that, as species die out, they will not be replaced by warmer-water species moving northwards, and the richness of intertidal wildlife in the UK will decrease,” said Dr Regan Early, also from the University of Exeter.
“Rockpool animals are not alone in this quest.
“As the world warms, many species will find themselves living in environments that are too hot for them to survive.
“To avoid extinction, species must move to new areas, keeping them within their preferred climate.
“However, physical barriers like the English Channel may prevent species from doing this.”
The study was carried out by Exeter’s FABiogeography research group.
Christophe Patterson won the Sir Geoffrey Holland Prize for academic excellence within a field related to Cornwall.
The paper, published in the journal Marine Biology, is entitled: “The range expansion of Clibanarius erythropus to the UK suggests that other range-shifting intertidal species may not follow.”
Journal: Marine Biology
DOI: 10.1007/s00227-021-04008-5
Method of Research: Computational simulation/modeling
Subject of Research: Animals
Article Title: The range expansion of Clibanarius erythropus to the UK suggests that other range-shifting intertidal species may not follow
Article Publication Date: 19-Jan-2022
Media Contact
Louise Vennells
University of Exeter
pressoffice@exeter.ac.uk
Office: 0044-139-272-2062
All latest news from the category: Ecology, The Environment and Conservation
This complex theme deals primarily with interactions between organisms and the environmental factors that impact them, but to a greater extent between individual inanimate environmental factors.
innovations-report offers informative reports and articles on topics such as climate protection, landscape conservation, ecological systems, wildlife and nature parks and ecosystem efficiency and balance.
Newest articles
SpinMagIC: ‘EPR on a chip’ ensures quality of olive oil and beer
Spin-off company offers a tiny solution for a big problem. The first sign of spoilage in many food products is the formation of free radicals, which reduces the shelf-life and…
Impressive results against autoimmune disease
Severe systemic lupus no longer detectable after cancer medication treatment. The team at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin is astounded by the huge improvement seen in a female patient with severe…
UCF researchers develop rapid test to detect dopamine
The sensor could serve as a low-cost and efficient tool for early detection of neurological disorders and conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter in our…