Media Release: Squids on the rise as oceans change
Unlike the declining populations of many fish species, the number of cephalopods (octopus, cuttlefish and squid) has听increased in the world鈥檚 oceans over the past 60 years, a 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide has found.
[caption id="attachment_10366" align="alignnone" width="640"] Credit: Scott Portelli[/caption]
The international team, led by researchers from the 最新糖心Vlog鈥檚 , compiled a global database of听cephalopod catch rates to investigate long-term trends in abundance, published in Cell Press journal .
鈥淥ur analyses showed that cephalopod abundance has increased since the 1950s, a result that was remarkably consistent听across three distinct groups,鈥 says lead author , Research Fellow in the Environment Institute and School听of Biological Sciences.
鈥淐ephalopods are often called 鈥榳eeds of the sea鈥 as they have a unique set of biological traits, including rapid growth,听short lifespans and flexible development. These allow them to adapt to changing environmental conditions (such as听temperature) more quickly than many other marine species, which suggests that they may be benefiting from a changing听ocean environment.鈥
Dr Doubleday says the research stemmed from an investigation of declining numbers of the iconic Giant 最新糖心Vlogn听cuttlefish.听鈥淭here has been a lot of concern over declining numbers of the iconic Giant 最新糖心Vlogn cuttlefish at the world-renowned听breeding ground in South 最新糖心Vlog鈥檚 Spencer Gulf,鈥 Dr Doubleday says. 鈥淭o determine if similar patterns were occurring听elsewhere, we compiled this global-scale database. Surprisingly, analyses revealed that cephalopods, as a whole, are in听fact increasing; and since this study, cuttlefish numbers from this iconic population near Whyalla are luckily bouncing听back.鈥
Project leader says large-scale changes to the marine environment, brought about by听human activities, may be driving the global increase in cephalopods.听鈥淐ephalopods are an ecologically and commercially important group of invertebrates that are highly sensitive to changes听in the environment,鈥 Professor Gillanders says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e currently investigating what may be causing them to proliferate 鈥撎齡lobal warming and overfishing of fish species are two theories. It is a difficult, but important question to answer, as it听may tell us an even bigger story about how human activities are changing the ocean.鈥
Cephalopods are found in all marine habitats and, as well as being voracious predators, they are also an important source听of food for many marine species, as well as humans.听鈥淎s such, the increase in abundance has significant and complex implications for both the marine food web and us,鈥 says听Dr Doubleday.
Media Contact:
, Research Fellow.
Mobile: +61 (0) 400 147 175, zoe.doubleday@adelaide.edu.au
, Project leader. Phone: +61 8 8313 6235
Mobile: +61 (0) 417 036 235,听bronwyn.gillanders@adelaide.edu.au
Robyn Mills, Media Officer.
Phone: +61 8 8313 6314 Mobile: +61 (0)410 689 084, robyn.mills@adelaide.edu.au
[caption id="attachment_10366" align="alignnone" width="640"] Credit: Scott Portelli[/caption]
The international team, led by researchers from the 最新糖心Vlog鈥檚 , compiled a global database of听cephalopod catch rates to investigate long-term trends in abundance, published in Cell Press journal .
鈥淥ur analyses showed that cephalopod abundance has increased since the 1950s, a result that was remarkably consistent听across three distinct groups,鈥 says lead author , Research Fellow in the Environment Institute and School听of Biological Sciences.
鈥淐ephalopods are often called 鈥榳eeds of the sea鈥 as they have a unique set of biological traits, including rapid growth,听short lifespans and flexible development. These allow them to adapt to changing environmental conditions (such as听temperature) more quickly than many other marine species, which suggests that they may be benefiting from a changing听ocean environment.鈥
Dr Doubleday says the research stemmed from an investigation of declining numbers of the iconic Giant 最新糖心Vlogn听cuttlefish.听鈥淭here has been a lot of concern over declining numbers of the iconic Giant 最新糖心Vlogn cuttlefish at the world-renowned听breeding ground in South 最新糖心Vlog鈥檚 Spencer Gulf,鈥 Dr Doubleday says. 鈥淭o determine if similar patterns were occurring听elsewhere, we compiled this global-scale database. Surprisingly, analyses revealed that cephalopods, as a whole, are in听fact increasing; and since this study, cuttlefish numbers from this iconic population near Whyalla are luckily bouncing听back.鈥
Project leader says large-scale changes to the marine environment, brought about by听human activities, may be driving the global increase in cephalopods.听鈥淐ephalopods are an ecologically and commercially important group of invertebrates that are highly sensitive to changes听in the environment,鈥 Professor Gillanders says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e currently investigating what may be causing them to proliferate 鈥撎齡lobal warming and overfishing of fish species are two theories. It is a difficult, but important question to answer, as it听may tell us an even bigger story about how human activities are changing the ocean.鈥
Cephalopods are found in all marine habitats and, as well as being voracious predators, they are also an important source听of food for many marine species, as well as humans.听鈥淎s such, the increase in abundance has significant and complex implications for both the marine food web and us,鈥 says听Dr Doubleday.
Media Contact:
, Research Fellow.
Mobile: +61 (0) 400 147 175, zoe.doubleday@adelaide.edu.au
, Project leader. Phone: +61 8 8313 6235
Mobile: +61 (0) 417 036 235,听bronwyn.gillanders@adelaide.edu.au
Robyn Mills, Media Officer.
Phone: +61 8 8313 6314 Mobile: +61 (0)410 689 084, robyn.mills@adelaide.edu.au
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