Scientists at the Centre for Environmental Fisheries and Aquaculture Science have identified a new species of sea slug in UK waters, raising questions about the impacts of climate change on marine biodiversity.
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists at the Centre for Environmental Fisheries and Aquaculture Science in the UK have identified a new species of sea slug in the waters off the south-west of England. Named Pleurobranchaea britannica, this side-gilled sea slug was encountered in the western Channel and Celtic Sea during research expeditions in 2018 and 2019. Typically found in warmer climates, the appearance of this species in UK waters has intrigued marine biologists and raised questions about potential shifts in marine habitats due to climate change.
Measuring between 2cm and 5cm, the discovery of Pleurobranchaea britannica is especially significant as it challenges the notion that the marine biodiversity of UK waters is fully catalogued. Ross Bullimore, a marine ecologist at the Centre, played a pivotal role in the discovery and subsequent identification of the sea slug as a novel species, in collaboration with the University of Cadiz.
The finding underscores the dynamic and ever-changing nature of marine ecosystems and highlights the importance of ongoing research in the face of environmental shifts. Sea slugs, despite their diminutive size, are considered vital top predators in marine food chains and indicators of the health of marine environments. Therefore, the discovery of Pleurobranchaea britannica not only adds to the biodiversity records of the UK but also contributes valuable data for studies on climate change impacts on marine life.
In a related development, zoologists in eastern India have identified a new species of sea slug, named Melanochlamys Droupadi, in homage to the country’s president, Droupadi Murmu. This discovery, made by researchers from the Zoological Survey of India, further underlines the global significance of cataloguing marine biodiversity to better understand ecological changes and preserve marine habitats.