News

The Pacific Ocean’s giant garbage patch (the North Pacific Subtropial Gyre) has led to an increase of surface space for sea striders to breed upon.

Previously, the Halobates sericeus—a cousin to the freshwater pond strider—had very limited hard surfaces upon which to breed: shells, feathers, pumice, and tar. Now, however, with a garbage patch rumored to be the size of Texas floating in the middle of the Pacific, the sea strider has ample breeding space in the open ocean.

Scientists worry that an increase in sea striders will impact the Pacific’s greater ecological system, and in particular, suspect that it will lead to an increase in crabs (who feed on sea striders) and pose a risk to fish eggs and zooplankton (which sea striders eat).

Read more in the LiveScience article.