Some deep sea creatures are booming in populations despite warming oceans, as cephalopods are thriving, which is a mollusk class that includes octopus, squid and cuttlefish. In the past 70 years or so, many fish populations are declining due to rising sea levels and warming ocean temperatures however, these soft, alien-like creatures are now becoming abundant in numbers.

Like Us on Facebook

Researchers from the University of Adelaide in South Australia set out to search for clues about the declining Giant Australian cuttlefish where they examined the breeding areas of the creature in the southern coastal region of the continent. Their main goal was to measure population growth and decline across all cephalopods all over the world.

According to lead author of the study, Zoë Doubleday from the University of Adelaide's Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, their new findings reveal that cephalopods as a whole are increasing and that is a fact, also, cuttlefish populations near Whyalla are now bouncing back.

Even if past scientific studies say that cuttlefish, squids and octopi are sensitive to environmental changes, they are also quick to adapt. Doubleday says that cephalopods are known as "weeds of the sea" as they are attributed to having extremely adaptive traits such as rapid growth, flexible characteristics and development despite shorter lifespans. With these set of traits, cephalopods can adapt quickly to changing temperatures and environments, than any marine species.

According to Bronwyn Gillanders from the University of Adelaide, since cephalopods are considered to be a crucial group of marine invertebrates that are extremely sensitive to environmental changes, this study aims to investigate, what is exactly causing them to flourish.

Now, researchers believe that rising ocean temperatures and declining fish species that are caused by commercial overfishing can be a major factor in the rise of the cephalopods. Doubleday adds that this increase of abundant cephalopod populations all over the world also has significant and complex implications for the marine food web and human food web as well.

This new study is published in the journal Current Biology. 

Tagscephalopods, Octopus, squids, cuttlefish, Climate Change, warming oceans