Aussies urged to head to beach to hunt for 'butterflies of the sea'
Sea slugs are found throughout Australia, but this weekend, authorities are calling on Victorians to find and document them in the name of science. There is a wide range of sea slug species, and understanding where they are distributed and what environments they can thrive in gives scientists an insight into the impact of increasing ocean temperatures.
"It is helping science and our understanding of these species, their distributions, their movement, and how it's all being impacted by climate change," said Kade Mills, the ReefWatch Coordinator from the Victorian National Parks Association. "And work is now beginning to look at whether they are going to be indicators of disturbance and pressures from things other than climate change."
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Aussies are being asked to head to shallow waters at low tide to spot the sea slugs. If one is found, simply snapping a picture and sharing it on the iNaturalist app will go a long way in helping further research.
"Rock pooling is probably one of the easiest and most successful ways for people to find them," Kade explained. The rockpools in San Remo, a coastal town in southern Victoria, are of particular interest as the area is a renowned hot spot for sea slugs in the state.
Kade told Yahoo News sea slugs come in "every colour of the rainbow" and continue to inspire artists around the world, thanks to their vibrancy and impressive patterns.
Rock god David Bowie himself was inspired by sea slugs, with an entire blog dedicated to documenting all the times his fashion appeared to mimic that of a sea slug species.
The slugs are often dubbed the "butterflies of the sea", and most are harmless to humans, with only a few causing skin irritation if skin contact is made. Hunting for them this weekend will not only help scientists, but the initiative also aims to make those involved feel good.
"It's a way to get people out and connected with nature in a slow, meaningful way, and to sort of look at the world that we often overlook," Kade said.
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