TY - M-10393
AU - Murwanashyaka, Michel
AU - Jiang, Lihua
AU - Yan, Xiaojun
TI - The Unsung Heroes of the Deep: Exploring the Crucial Contributions of Sea Spiders (Pantopoda) to the Balance and Diversity of Aquatic Ecosystems.
T2 - Scientific Research Journal of Environment, Earth and Physical Science

PY - 2025
VL - 3
IS - 2
SN - 2584-0614

AB - The Pantopoda, commonly known as sea spiders, has a significant impact
on the equilibrium and diversity of aquatic ecosystems. This study elucidates
their critical, yet frequently undervalued, roles within these environments. As
pivotal predators of sessile invertebrates, sea spiders play a crucial role in
regulating prey populations and shaping community dynamics. Their bioturbation
activities facilitate enhanced nutrient cycling, and certain species uniquely
engage in symbiotic relationships with methanotrophic bacteria, thereby
assimilating methane-derived carbon into their tissues. This finding
necessitates a reevaluation of marine food webs and has consequential implications
for climate science. With over 1300 described species, sea spiders exhibit
remarkable diversity across a range of habitats, encompassing both shallow
coastal zones and deep-sea ecosystems. Nonetheless, populations of Pantopoda
are increasingly threatened by climate change manifested through ocean
acidification, elevated water temperatures, and habitat degradation, as well as
pollution (including chemical contaminants, plastic debris, eutrophication, and
acoustic disturbances) and overfishing practices such as bottom trawling,
bycatch, and ensuing trophic cascades. In response, there is an urgent need for
the implementation of effective conservation strategies. These should include
the establishment of marine protected areas, continued research initiatives aimed
at species identification and ecological functions, and assessment of the
impacts of climate change. Furthermore, enhanced public awareness and education
are paramount. Only through a concerted effort involving scientific inquiry,
policy development, and public engagement can we safeguard the long-term viability
of these crucial organisms and the health of the marine ecosystems they
inhabit.

KW - Sea spiders
KW -  ecosystem resilience
KW -  protected areas
KW -  genetic diversity
KW -  aquatic ecosystem
DO -