Kidnapping in the Antarctic animal world?
Tuesday, September 11, 2018 - 06:32
in Biology & Nature
Pteropods or sea snails, also called sea angels, produce chemical deterrents to ward off predators, and some species of amphipods take advantage of this by carrying pteropods piggyback to gain protection from predators. There is no recognisable benefit for the pteropod. On the contrary, they starve: Captured between the amphipod's legs, they are unable to feed. Biologists working with Dr. Charlotte Havermans at the Alfred Wegener Institute have investigated this phenomenon as part of a cooperation project with the University of Bremen. In an article in the journal Marine Biodiversity, they talk about this "kidnapping" and explain the potential advantages of this association for both the host and its passenger.