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With the use of sea slugs in Australia, researchers can get a better understanding of the change in climate. Since 2013, a citizen science program Sea Slug Census charged by volunteers has recorded along the Australian coast observations of these gastropods.
Southern Cross University in New South Wales was organized by Professor Steve Smith.This observations has taken place for more than 40 censuses. Dr. Smith explained that they had to run different sea slug census creating plans to improve new areas.
(Photo : Pixabay)
Colorful Molluscs
A group of striking and colorful molluscs named Nudibranchs has been remarkably helpful in understanding the effects of global warming. The reason is that these molluscs generally have a life span of less than a year, which suggests they react more rapidly to shifts in their environmental conditions.
Australia isn’t the only place using sea slugs to learn more about climate change.
A particular species, the Hopkins’ Rose nudibranch, turned California’s central and northern coastline pink a few years ago.
Researchers from the California Academy of Sciences, UCSB, UCSC, and Bodega Marine Laboratory
began tracking the unusually high distribution of this bright pink sea slug in January 2015.
Though Hopkins’ Rose nudibranchs are a common sight in southern California, it is unusual to see them in significant numbers further north, as the water temperature is usually too cold to sustain large populations.
The presence of this particular species of sea slug is thought to be indicative of major climate shifts, and unexpected population booms could be used to measure future changes.