A study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment has revealed a new behaviour trend among hermit crabs: multiple crabs have been photographed with our plastic waste on their backs instead of their normal shells. Using new technology, iEcology, scientists have scanned the internet for these photos, which are mostly tourist photos, revealing 386 crabs with artificial shells, such as bottle caps, or shards of plastic.
Whilst at first glance, this new behaviour could seem cute or quirky, the reality is that our waste is impacting the very evolution of these crabs - the impacts of which have yet to be seen and studied.
It is no small change either. From this data, 10 out of 16 terrestrial hermit crab species were identified as exhibiting this new behavioural trend; a widespread shift for these small crustaceans, and one which scientists are unable to say is beneficial or harmful. Whilst this adaptation could be considered impressive, the truth is that no one can safely predict the outcomes of this new relationship that hermit crabs have with plastic.
The study is raising new questions for ecologists, and calls for more research into the effects of the artificial shells on the evolution of the species. It also highlights the extent to which our waste is inserting itself into the lives of other beings. In a recent study to calculate the extent of plastic pollution, it was estimated that at least 171 trillion pieces of plastic are now floating in our oceans - a figure that is set to triple by 2040 if no action is taken.
Our coastlines, and its inhabitants, are being forcibly changed by our lifestyle. Whilst the hermit crab may be one species able to adapt to this invasion of their habitat, there are many other species that will not be so lucky.