Bathynomus Isopods replacing Red Crab in Gulf

[3113]

I think we can all agree that the BP oil spill was bad news for the local sea life. Evidently, however, something new and weird is now happening. This video isn't the complete report, but in a nutshell, while the toxic waters are still bad news for the red crabs, bathyanomus isopods, a very old school type of crab/shrimp thought to be common to deep, cold Atlantic waters, are appearing to fill the void.

I didn't check out any further reports on this so maybe there's more on why this is happening. I'm still curious to know what you scientists and writers think. Why might this be happening and what does it mean?

 

[TE999]

Bathyonomus is a scavenger and may well have appeared to feed on the sea life killed by the oil spill. Some areas of the Gulf of Mexico are quite deep replicating the creatures customary deep sea habitat.

Here's the Wiki entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_isopod

 

[sr71plt]

I think we can all agree that the BP oil spill was bad news for the local sea life. Evidently, however, something new and weird is now happening. This video isn't the complete report, but in a nutshell, while the toxic waters are still bad news for the red crabs, bathyanomus isopods, a very old school type of crab/shrimp thought to be common to deep, cold Atlantic waters, are appearing to fill the void.

I didn't check out any further reports on this so maybe there's more on why this is happening. I'm still curious to know what you scientists and writers think. Why might this be happening and what does it mean?

Isn't the important question how tasty these BIs are?

 

[Stella_Omega]

Isn't the important question how tasty these BIs are?

They won't taste good if they ingest crude oil from their environment. Human taste buds are incredibly sensitive to that.

During the Exxon spill, IIR, technicians tried to create sensometers that would measure parts of oil in the groundwater... they found that human sense of smell and taste were able to detect much smaller parts than anything they came up with.

 

[JackLuis]

They won't taste good if they ingest crude oil from their environment. Human taste buds are incredibly sensitive to that.

During the Exxon spill, IIR, technicians tried to create sensometers that would measure parts of oil in the groundwater... they found that human sense of smell and taste were able to detect much smaller parts than anything they came up with.

If they are eating the oil kill, they will gather a lot of chemicals. What if they mutate, and get to be 10 meters instead of half a meter long?

Then JBJ would have worry about them coming up and eating his tomatoes, or Okra!

http://www.karupsarchive.com/gallery/fa6547/04.jpg

 

[Stella_Omega]

If they are eating the oil kill, they will gather a lot of chemicals. What if they mutate, and get to be 10 meters instead of half a meter long?

Sadly, the kinds of mutations that come from toxic chemicals go the other way-- leukemia and missing body parts.

Then JBJ would have worry about them coming up and eating his tomatoes, or Okra!

http://www.karupsarchive.com/gallery/fa6547/04.jpg

Sweet! Don't you just want to dive in head first... or tongue first?

 

[JackLuis]

Sadly, the kinds of mutations that come from toxic chemicals go the other way-- leukemia and missing body parts.

Sweet! Don't you just want to dive in head first... or tongue first?

I thought a little decoration wouldn't hurt.

 

[3113]

Isn't the important question how tasty these BIs are?

Well, they're most closely related to pill bugs and woodlouse. Yummy.

Maybe with a little vinegar to go with the oil splashed on top....

 

[3113]

Ihttp://www.karupsarchive.com/gallery/fa6547/04.jpg

Thank you for the visual, but that's not a bathynomus Isopod. This is a bathynomus Isopod.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Bathynomus_giganteus.jpg

I can see where you might have gotten confused.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Thank you for the visual, but that's not a bathynomus Isopod. This is a bathynomus Isopod.
http://www.karupsarchive.com/gallery/fa6547/04.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Bathynomus_giganteus.jpg

I can see where you might have gotten confused.

I'll take option one, please (with egg roll).

Seeing as how Leviticus says I'm going to hell anyways, I might as well enjoy myself! (besides, I don't do "BI")

 

[Stella_Omega]

Thank you for the visual, but that's not a bathynomus Isopod. This is a bathynomus Isopod.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Bathynomus_giganteus.jpg

I can see where you might have gotten confused.

Chitin is a beautiful thing.