A sea slug, new to science, has been discovered by researchers off the coast of the south-west of England. The Pleurobranchaea Britannica species is a member of a larger group that normally inhabits warmer waters, and it is feared that the creatures are migrating to the north as a result of the earth’s rising temperatures. Researcher Ross Bullimore of the Centre for the Environment, Food and Aquaculture Science discovered the creature whilst on board a research vessel. To date, around a hundred distinct sea slugs have been found in seas located around Ireland and Britain.
Despite the fact that sea slugs are relatively small, only growing to approximately 5 cm in length, these species are major predators in the food chain. They are also viewed as “indicator species”, meaning that they are useful in enabling scientists to assess the health of the oceans, and in particular how marine ecosystems are reacting to both human activity and climate changes.
Researchers are concerned about the overall impact that rising ocean temperatures are having on marine life across the globe. As fish and whales move in search of colder waters during heatwaves, it can upset the entire balance of the food chain, and may also affect fish stocks in the long term. However, the discovery of the Pleurobranchaea Britannica does signal hope, indicating that there may still be much to learn about life in our oceans.
Mr Bullimore, reflecting on the discovery, said: “To find a new species that’s not microscopic is quite exciting. It shows that there’s still work to be done.” However, scientists are insistent that action needs to be taken swiftly to try and prevent marine life being adversely affected
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