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CHILDREN'S CORNER
CRUSTACEAN HABITATS
Decapods live in all sorts of places. For many, the sea is their habitat. You will find lots of them in warm, shallow waters - such as the coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. But they can also live in freshwater places such as lakes and rivers, or on beaches, in caves, and even up trees and mountains!
Some decapods are home invaders - they enter the home of another animal uninvited. An animal that does this is called a parasite. Take the Pea Crab - this tiny crustacean lives in oysters and mussels.
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CRUSTACEAN CHECK!
Can you spot the pea crab?
Why do you think it is called the pea crab?
Other decapods find empty homes and move in. The Hermit Crab will look for a tough shell to call home, as its soft exoskeleton does not give it the protection it needs. Once they get too big for the shell, they look for a new home.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Common hermits often want anemones on their shell, as their sting tentacles can help ward off predators. When they grow out of their shell, they often take the anemones with them!
THREATS TO DECAPODS
Sadly, many habitats are under threat, which makes life very hard for decapods. In fact, the challenges decapods face go beyond threats to their habitat. Here is a list of their biggest problems:
CLIMATE CHANGE
Rising sea temperatures means there is less oxygen in the sea - which decapods need to stay alive.
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POLLUTION
Lots of plastic rubbish gets thrown in the sea, which animals can get trapped in. On top of that, chemicals and sewage is often pumped into the water.
HABITAT
Numerous habitats are under threat, such as coral reefs. Many coral reefs are drying. These are vital homes for crustaceans - they use them to forage for food and hide from predators.
INVASIVE SPECIES
Mixing decapods from different parts of the world can be harmful. This North American Signal Crayfish carries a disease that is killing the white clawed crayfish from the River Kennet, England.
OVERFISHING
Decapods are being caught in too many fishing nets - and their numbers are not recovering. We call this overfishing.
WHY WE NEED DECAPODS
Decapods have been around for a really long time - and we cannot afford to lose them. Here are some of the ways decapods are a vital part of our world:
THEY CLEAN OUR OCEANS
Decapods are great composters. They help break down food waste from plants and other animals - which is vital for a healthy ecosystem.
THEY CLEAN OUR PLANTS
Decapods are the bees of the seas. Scientists are thinking they help pollinate seaweed - which all ocean food chains depend on.
HABITAT LOSS
Numerous habitats are under threat, such as coral reefs. Many coral reefs are dying. These are vital homes for crustaceans - they use them to forage for food and hide from predators.
THEY HOLD UP THE FOOD CHAIN
When decapods are very small, they are vulnerable to being eaten. In fact, so many animals depend on decapods as a food source. Without them, entire ecosystems would collapse.
We need decapods. They keep our world healthy - so we must protect them. This means looking after their habitats and making sure we don’t overfish them.
CRUSTACEAN CHECK
It is called the Pea Crab because it is the size of a pea! This tiny crab is only 1cm wide.
