Cold Clueless Case Concerning Crabbing Cancellation

Alaska Snow Crab. NOAA Photo.

INTRODUCTION

    Recently in October 2022, officials announced that crabbing season was canceled in Alaska. It was not because of economic reasons nor political tensions, but how could a very popular delicacy stop all of a sudden without warning? The short and direct answer is that nearly one billion crabs went missing in the frigid Bering Sea; that is about an 80-90% drop in the population from 2018 to 2022. This is the first time Snow Crab harvest season is cancelled.

Alaska Snow Crab. NOAA Photo.

SPECIES ANALYSIS

    Alaskan Snow Crabs (Chionoecetes opolio), the scientific name meaning snow-inhabiting shepherd, are native to the Bering, Beaufort, and Chukchi Sea near Alaska. They belong to the order of crustaceans called Decapoda, ten-footed. In order to thrive, the crabs prefer very frigid water, which is ironic because invertebrates like insects and crustaceans are cold-blooded. They are scavengers and will eat anything they can get their claws on, just like any other crustacean.

    Let's be honest, crabs exist to be eaten. I will never forget seeing the prices of just 4 Snow Crab legs at the grocery store, which ranges from $35 to $200 or even more. The delicious sea bugs are very popular delicacies around the world, and Snow Crabs are not an exception. This means they are prone to overfishing, but the cause of the great disappearance was not overfishing this time.

MYSTERY AND POSSIBILITY

    There is a small variety of ideas as to how one billion crabs went missing so suddenly. The most popular conclusion that I have researched so far is that the ocean is becoming too warm for the crabs. As previously mentioned, Snow Crabs cannot handle water that is a little warmer than very cold.

    Other theories include that disease wiped out the majority of the population or that they moved over to colder water, possibly the Russian seas. 

Snow Crab Legs and Claws.

CONCLUSION

    This very big problem cannot really be solved by non-officials like me, but the good news is that conservation efforts are as maximum as they can be. Because of how new this conflict is, the only solution given out was to leave the crab population alone. Until then, it is a waiting game. If anything could make us look more into the importance of our native wildlife, it would be extreme cases like these.

SOURCES

RESEARCH:

Alaska's snow crabs have disappeared. Where they went is a mystery. (yahoo.com)

Why have billions of snow crabs disappeared from Alaskan waters? | New Scientist

Alaska Snow Crab | NOAA Fisheries

IMAGES:

Price outlook good for Bering Sea snow crab and tanners | National Fisherman

Alaska Snow Crab | NOAA Fisheries

COOKED ALASKAN SNOW CRAB LEGS – Alaskan Crab Co

Lizard Invasion in America

Brown Anole Lizard Shedding Skin

INTRODUCTION 

    In southeastern United States, the sight of lizards hanging out on tree branches, garden plants, and brick walls is not uncommon. Most people walk by without thinking much about the small critters, and I usually do the same thing as well. If you live in this region, what you may have casually seen is a called a Green Anole, or Carolina Anole (Anolis carolinensis). Despite how small these lizards are, they have a very big impact on the environment, but they are facing one of the biggest conflicts in America. The southeastern region receives many unwanted visitors, and they are pushing out the native species like the Green Anole. 

NATIVE OR INVASIVE?

    An Anole Lizard could be one of two similar-looking lizards: Green Anole and Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei); only one of them is native to the United States. 

    These lizards are in the same genus, which makes it difficult to distinguish from one another. To add to this, native Green Anoles periodically change color from green to brown and back. The good news is that Anoles are usually insectivorous, which means they act as a natural pest control.

Green Anole Lizard

HISTORY

    Brown Anole Lizards are native to Cuba and the Bahamas. They were first reported in the Florida Keys in the 1880s. By the late 20th-century, the lizards have spread all over the southern United States. Just like many other invasive species, it is speculated that they hitched a ride through cargo ships or their eggs were accidentally brought over through transporting plants. 

EFFECTS

    Brown Anoles occupy the same niche as Green Anoles. However, these Cuban lizards have an advantage over the American ones. 

    Green lizards cannot handle growing urbanization, but the Brown Anoles can. Brown Anoles tend to be more aggressive, and whenever they are present, Green Anoles are usually forced to feed in higher places while they take over lower areas. The lizards are directly competing with each other, and they even eat each other. Despite the similar lifestyle, the native Green Anole population is taking a greater hit. The situation is made worse considering that it is very hard to control their growth because they are generalist lizards that can live in the smallest crevices.

    The effects of the invasive Brown Anole may not be major to humans or most of the environment, but that does not make it better if there is a loss of biodiversity when native populations are declining while invasive species are making room for themselves.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

    Despite how uncatchable the Brown Anoles seem, that does not mean they cannot be fought back. Since these lizards are so small, there are not very many direct solutions. Some solutions include reducing the living spaces, leaving them for the native predators to eat, and helping the Green Anole population. I believe the latter is the best solution so that they are not out competed by these invaders and become extinct. 

Green Anole Sleeping in a Tree

CONCLUSION

    If we take a lesson about invasive species around the world, the loss of biodiversity is devastating effect. At the same time, we can take a lesson from these small lizards. Anole Lizards fill the insectivorous niche, and they are especially helpful for stopping pests and disease-carrying insects. If something small could be beneficial to us and the environment, then it is worth saving these local lizards and preserving the biodiversity that we still have.