For many creatures, the ocean is a terrifying place. Several marine animal populations have declined as a result of overfishing and pollution. But cephalopods—a type of invertebrate that includes octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid—have seen a dramatic increase in their numbers over the past 60 years.
Zoe Doubleday, a scientist at the University of Adelaide, in Australia, conducted a study of cephalopods. She says their population rise is owed in part to the animals’ unique traits.
The creatures can change their color and body shape. They are fast-growing and live for only one or two years. “This allows them to adapt to changing environmental conditions more quickly than other marine species,” Doubleday told TFK.
Rising sea temperatures may be speeding up the animals’ life cycle, she says. They may be growing faster and producing more young.
Taking Over the Oceans
Cephalopods live in all of the world’s oceans. They can be found in waters from the frigid poles to the warm tropics. Because they adapt so easily to their environment, the animals are called the “weeds of the sea.”
Will octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid take over the world one day? According to Doubleday, that is unlikely. The rise in cephalopod populations could slow down if the animals run out of prey and start feeding on one another. Overfishing could also have an impact on their numbers.
For now, the cephalopod population boom is good news for them and some other sea creatures. “Increases in cephalopod populations could benefit predators such as marine mammals and seabirds, which are reliant on cephalopods for food,” Doubleday says.