King crabs ‘could invade Antarctic’ because of global warming

Fast warming of the sea west of the Antarctic Peninsula- – the a few piece of the landmass that augments north toward South America- – makes it conceivable lord crab populaces could come back from the remote ocean to the moderately shallow mainland rack, where they could turn out to be abnormal state predators and disturb the biological system, as indicated by National Science Foundation (NSF)- supported scientists. Researchers found no barriers to prevent these king crabs from moving into the Antarctic shelf if the waters continue to warm.

However, due to climate change, they could become extinct.

The creatures could soon be disturbing delicately balanced Antarctic marine ecosystems, where they have not played a role in tens of millions of years, according to a new study. The Antarctic cold temperature kept them away from the region but now when water surrounding Antarctica is heating up, there is no barrier left for king crabs to invade Antarctic shelf and disrupt its ecosystem.

The arrival would have a huge impact on local ecosystem as king crabs feed on such kind of soft organisms that are commonly found on Antarctic shelf.

Over the past few years, researchers have observed these crabs in the waters off the western Antarctic peninsula.

In this new study, researchers used a camera rig attached to an underwater vehicle in order to study king crabs on the continental slope.

What remains to be seen with the king crab invasion is whether or not they will expand their presence beyond where it is now.

Aronson said there was a large population consisting of thousands of king crabs of species Paralomis birsteini.

Observations suggest a reproductively viable population is present, as juveniles, discarded molts and precopulatory behavior were seen. These temperature fluctuations, according to an worldwide group of scientists, threaten species that thrive in frigid waters with negligible variation in seasonal sea temperatures.

Author James McClintock of the Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham said further evidence king crabs are expanding their range can only be supplied through tracking and long-term monitoring of the population.