Crabs find sea water unbearable, move to land for a short holiday
Even crabs are seemingly finding life in the ocean unbearable. In what seems to be a curious incident of migration of crabs, sea crabs in the coastal areas of Kollam have been found crawling out of the water and into the land.
The sea crabs that had crawled out of the water are of the genus Portunus Sanguinolentus, commonly called the spotted crab. P. Sanguinolentus is a commercial crab also known as the three-spot swimming crab, commonly found in sea water. Much to the delight of the fishermen in the region the phenomenon sea crabs crawling out of the water and into the coast in multiples continued until noon, assuring a good catch.
The underlying questions that the incident brings out are not all that amusing, say the biologists. It has been their viewpoint that lack of oxygen in the sea water might have forced the crabs to move out of the sea water and into the land. This phenomenon is called Hypoxia. In healthy marine conditions, the concentration level of Oxygen in water is up to 80%. Anything short of 30% Oxygen in sea water could lead to hypoxia.
Though hypoxia often occurs as a natural phenomenon, under present circumstances it may very well be attributed to water pollution. Eutrophication, the state of excessive nutrients being present in sea water may also be a factor. Collective solutions to hypoxia may include better sewage treatment and reduction of chemical levels reaching water.
Incidentally, the same phenomenon had occurred last year, only it was the red crabs that raided the coastal areas.
Other News
IPL players auctions:No light at the end of the tunnel for Kochi's IPL dream
Wayanad wildlife sanctuary: 30 years of struggle and finally hope for farmers
V M Sudheeran leads the crusade against ENDOSULFAN
Achuthanandan succeeds in throwing Smart City out
Kapil Sibal is new minister for Communications and Information Technology
Shashi Tharoor crosses swords with Arundhati Roy
Information Technology minister A. Raja resigns in the light of Congress DMK talks