The Little Lobster That Reveals Climate

Pelagic red crabs, also known as tuna crabs, are squat lobsters found off Baja California. Their presence on California beaches signals unusual ocean conditions. They move with ocean currents and upwelling, influenced by climate events like El Niño and La Niña. These crabs serve as indicators of climate change, with strandings becoming more frequent due to marine heatwaves and warming oceans.

What are pelagic red crabs more accurately classified as?

• True crabs

• Squat lobsters

• Shrimps

• Barnacles

What is the primary diet of pelagic red crabs?

• Coral

• Small fish

• Seaweed

• Phytoplankton

How do pelagic red crabs move with ocean currents?

• By swimming strongly against the current

• By floating and being carried by the current

• By walking on the ocean floor

• By attaching to larger marine animals

What climate event is associated with the mass stranding of pelagic red crabs?

• Tornado

• Hurricane

• El Niño

• Monsoon

During which event are pelagic red crabs more likely to be found in their usual habitats?

• El Niño

• La Niña

• Monsoon season

• Hurricane season

What phenomenon in 2014 and 2016 affected the distribution of pelagic red crabs?

• Cold water currents

• Marine heatwaves

• Increased salinity

• Decreased ocean depth

What role do pelagic red crabs play in indicating environmental changes?

• They signal changes in ocean habitats

• They clean the ocean floor

• They predict weather patterns

• They control fish populations