If you were on a hunt for every kind of beetle in a forest, you’d search the tree bark, turn over rocks, and dig in the soil. You’d certainly capture a lot of different species. But you could search every nook and cranny and still miss a bunch of biodiversity. Beetles are too good at blending in, hiding, and avoiding. In my research, the hunt is even harder. I’m not looking for beetles. I’m underwater searching for creatures no larger than a jellybean. I’m seeking my favorite kind of animal—amphipods.
Amphipods are proof that sometimes big things come from little animals. They are strange crustaceans related to crabs and shrimp, but with a thinner outer shell. More akin to kangaroo than crustacean, female amphipods use a brood pouch to protect their offspring. These wee weirdos are highly underrated. But despite their importance to the ecosystem as decomposers and food for everything from fish to gray whales, our knowledge of amphipods remains limited because they are so challenging to find. So I need to use multiple methods to improve my hunt for amphipods.
It’s the Little Things… | Hakai Institute
Amphipods are proof that sometimes big things come from little animals. They are strange crustaceans related to crabs and shrimp, but with a thinner outer shell. More akin to kangaroo than crustacean, female amphipods use a brood pouch to protect their offspring. These wee weirdos are highly underrated. But despite their importance to the ecosystem as decomposers and food for everything from fish to gray whales, our knowledge of amphipods remains limited because they are so challenging to find. So I need to use multiple methods to improve my hunt for amphipods.
It’s the Little Things… | Hakai Institute