A recent discovery of sea spiders has unveiled their unique farming skills utilizing bacteria to convert methane into nutrients. Biologist Shana Goffredi and her team identified three new species of sea spiders, Sericosura, living near methane seeps and hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. These sea spiders possess charming facial features and a distinctive ability to cultivate bacteria that transform methane, a greenhouse gas, into essential nutrients.
Described as “the ultimate farmers” by Goffredi, these sea spiders nurture bacteria on their bodies. These bacteria convert methane gas from the ocean floor into nutrient sources that the spiders consume. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, this discovery sheds light on deep-sea life sustainability and offers insights for climate change mitigation strategies.
Unlike other arthropods, such as crabs, the Sericosura spiders exhibit a unique symbiotic relationship with bacteria near methane seeps, a phenomenon not previously observed in sea spiders. The male spiders play a crucial role in passing on their methane-converting microbes to their offspring, enabling the farming process from generation to generation.
The exact benefits that the bacteria derive from this relationship remain unclear, prompting further research to understand the attraction of bacteria to these sea spiders and their suitability as a habitat. This accidental discovery during a methane seep study may lead to advancements in technology aimed at reducing methane emissions, similar to current efforts utilizing methane-eating bacteria in landfills.
While the potential impact of this sea spider discovery on methane emissions remains uncertain, the findings highlight the adaptation strategies of creatures in extreme environments. As countries explore deep-sea mining activities, understanding the ecosystem’s functioning becomes crucial for conservation efforts to prevent irreversible environmental damage.
