These sea spiders use bacteria on their body to convert methane into food

Most people probably do not consider sea spiders cute, but biologist Shana Gofrady says they are “extremely adorable”.

Goffreddy and their students have discovered three new species of marine spiders from Genus Cerricosura, which live specifically near methane seeps and hydrothrimal vents on the ocean floor.

Gofrady says that organisms have facial features, such as a large nose and small teeth, which make them stand out. But what actually makes them special, says, her ability to grow “monoculture” of bacteria that converts methane, a greenhouse gas into delicious nutrients.

“He is the supreme farmer,” told Gofrady, a professor and chairman of biology at Oxidantal College at Los Angeles. As it happens Host Nil Koxle.

What they are cultivating, she says, they are bacteria that live on their body. They convert bacteria methane gas that cuts bubbles in sources of carbon-based nutrients from the sea floor that absorbs spiders on eating bacteria.

Researchers say that conclusion, published in Action of National Science AcademyHighlights how life maintains itself in the depth of the sea, and can even help develop equipment to reduce the effects of climate change.

Pass through

Some arthropods, such as some crabs, cultivate their own germs, and scientists have found a similar symbiosis between insects and bacteria living near methane seeps.

But this discovery is the first time scientists have observed this special event in marine spiders.

Most of the marine spiders are hunters. They eat anemone, insects, sponges and soft moongs, obtaining their nutrients by piercing their prey and sucking their internal fluids.

On the other hand, sericosura spiders are more like inter -state farmers.

After laying eggs of a female spider, the male spider takes them around in special eggs on their body until they hatch. The father then moves his germs to hatching, which makes the cultivation process possible.

“He gives them symbiosis that will grow on their exoskeleton that they will cultivate for the rest of their lives,” said Goffrade. “They are really good dad.”

A ‘happy accident’

Is it not yet clear that bacteria get out of this system.

Gofrady says that more research is required to determine why bacteria are attracted to translucent, centimeters-live marine spiders, and make their body a suitable habitat.

“We are already looking for animals that may have often been ignored in the past, which can actually have a big role in linking between gaseous, high-energy methane and its use germs,” ​​he said.

This discovery, she says, “a pleasant accident”, as he and his team initially determined to study the methane seeps.

A post-doctoral researchers at the Natural History Museum at the Guadalupa Bribiska-Custraus, UK, who study deepsia systematics and ecology, say that events such as methane seeps are poorly understood because they have different environment, which makes them difficult to study.

“We are in a phase where we are just starting to provide very basic information, (eg) what lives,” said Bribesca-Contreras, who were not involved in the study, said. “Then we can start looking at these big, more relevant questions.”

One of the questions is interested in BribieSca-Contreras how organisms who live in an environment like methane sinks developed.

Cameate Change and Conservation

Methane can provide a nutritious snack for bacteria and spiders, but it is also a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Gofrady says that his team understood how methane cycles are through ecosystems, and they hope that man can develop technology by understanding the process of spiders better, which reduces methane release from the sea.

In fact, some scientists Already testing the use of methane eating bacteria To reduce methane emissions in landfills.

“I think we can learn a lot from these spiders,” said Gofrady.

Methane is Second most abundant greenhouse gas Contribution to global warming after carbon dioxide.

According to the United Nations Environment Program, About 30 percent of contemporary global warming is powered by methane Released by human functions.

Nicole Billiere, who studies symbiosis in Max Planck Institute for Marobe Microbiology in Germany, says Spider’s discovery is interesting, but she suspects that it will have to reduce methane emissions.

“I don’t know if a species is going to create such a difference,” said the Bibilier, who was not involved in the research. “It’s not a matter of this discovery.”

This is because bacteria from the environment are extremely difficult for culture, especially when they are in mutual symbiotic relations or are not first cultured.

The real value of the discovery, she says, it is that it highlights how organisms survive in the poor environment of deep, dark, nutrients.

He said that this is especially important because countries have expressed interest in increasing deepsia mining efforts.

“It matters to conserve these special sites,” said the bubbler. “You cannot start destroying an environment before understanding it.”

Bribysca-Contreras agree.

“It is important that we understand how the ecosystem works and what services that are providing those ecosystems,” he said. “Because perhaps if we harm them, our life will be affected.”