2y ago

Scientists will unleash an army of crabs to help save Florida’s dying reef

www.vox.com

Not all heroes wear capes. Some are crabs.

35 comments

According to the article, the crabs have been bred in an environment without predators. Therefore they have to train the crabs how to protect themselves in order to survive in the coral reefs. Picture of using puppets to train crabs
- That is a terrifying puppet. Like wtf is it supposed to be?
  
  A Very Normal Sea Creature Nothing To See Here
  (squid?)
  
  Ironically said by a fugly duck. Hmm
  
  Terrifying for a crab... Wait... are you a crab?!? :O
  
  Octopus, if I had to guess
- I'm kinda surprised to see them training them one at a time. That's going to take ages. "OK, Roger has been successfully intimidated by the nightmare puppet. Looks like Brenda is next in line, someone bring in Brenda."
  
  Just put a real predator in the tank forehead
- Pretty sure crabs brains are so simple that they are almost purely instinctual. You shouldn't need to train them. But I can hurt, I guess.
- Marine biologist’s friend: How’s work been lately?
  Biologist: Great! This month I’ve been putting on puppet shows for crabs!
  Friend: Is that a euphemism or …?
These are native crabs right? Surely they wouldn't introduce a potentially invasive species. Right?
- Making crabs even more appealing is that they’re native to Florida, just in relatively low numbers. (“Everything eats them,” Spadaro said.) Adding them to the reef is unlikely to have any grave unintended consequences for the ecosystem, Spadaro said, especially considering that there are few other herbivores.
  Yeah
THERE IS A PERSON WHOSE JOB IS TO TRAIN CRABS WITH A PUPPET
According to the article, the crabs will help the coral by eating algae. Unfortunately, algae is great for (and sorely needed for) removing carbon dioxide from the air.
https://fortune.com/2022/07/05/brilliant-planet-startup-marine-algae-carbon-capture-climate-change/
- Crabs eating to save the environment isn't gonna destroy the environment
  
  Eeeeh maybe. America has a long history of over-correcting an issue and creating a new issue
- Biodiversity is more important.
  Also you're talking about microalgae, the stuff that makes water look green. The stuff the crabs would be eating is growing on the coral or is shading it like kelp.
  
  Hopefully you are right! I just found it humorous that on one side of the world they’re growing algae to save the planet, and on the other side they are getting rid of algae to save the planet. 🤷‍♂️
In unrelated news, FL conservatives pass law banning crabs due to "water wokeness".
How about letting them loose in the state legislatures?
- Or copy Roosevelt’s idea and use badgers.
  
  what was that?!
🦀🦀🦀
This is how it begins.
Taste like crab, speak like people
So that's why my ex booked that flight to Miami
Hmmm.
Cyborg crabs?
Noooope. Cool but boring!

35 comments