Deep-sea Sea Spiders Thrive on Methane in Darkness
Scientists discovered new sea spiders off Southern California that survive by grazing on bacteria that convert methane into nutrients, revealing a unique deep-sea ecosystem and a potential new pathway in the global carbon cycle. These spiders carry bacteria on their limbs and eggs, which help them process methane, challenging previous assumptions about methane-fed ecosystems and highlighting the importance of preserving such habitats.