Science Friday How These Spiders At The Bottom Of The Sea Run On Methane
Jul 13, 2025
Biologist Shana Goffredi, a professor at Occidental College, dives into the intriguing world of deep-sea spiders adapted to thrive on methane. She reveals the discovery of a unique sea spider with unusual features, such as a giant nose and leg cannons. The podcast explores their symbiotic relationship with methane-oxidizing bacteria and the spiders' grooming habits. Goffredi emphasizes the importance of deep-sea biodiversity and highlights that much of the ocean remains unexplored, promising more surprises in these mysterious depths.
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Sea Spiders Farm Methane Bacteria
- Deep sea sea spiders farm methane-oxidizing bacteria that convert methane into biomass.
- The spider consumes these bacteria as a food source, showing a novel methane-based survival strategy.
Spider's Proboscis Harvests Bacteria
- The spider creates a living environment favorable for bacterial growth on its surface, effectively "farming" them.
- It uses its large proboscis with chitinous lips and teeth to harvest the bacteria, similar to lawnmower-like grazing.
Sea Spiders Filter Methane Emissions
- These methane-consuming sea spiders serve as an important ecological cog, possibly feeding larger fish and crabs.
- They help prevent methane from entering the atmosphere by filtering methane on the seafloor.