Tiny sea slug could have a big impact on successful coastal conservation efforts

by Carly Murphy, Chapman University
March 5, 2025

As climate change accelerates, finding effective solutions that deliver outsized impact becomes increasingly crucial. Now, new research from Chapman University shows that a tiny marine mollusk native to the U.S. West Coast may hold the key to more effective coastal restoration. 

The study, “Variation in thermal tolerance plasticity and the costs of heat exposure in the estuarine sea hare, Phyllaplysia taylori,” published on February 25, 2025 in Ecosphere, reveals that this small sea slug is both remarkably heat-tolerant and genetically diverse across its wide range — key traits that make it an ideal partner for climate-resilient coastal restoration.

As coastal development and industrial activities continue to degrade seagrass beds worldwide, the findings come at a critical time. Despite their small footprint, seagrass ecosystems provide outsized environmental benefits — serving as essential nurseries for commercial fish species, storing significant amounts of coastal carbon, protecting shorelines from waves, and helping to buffer against ocean acidification.

Keep reading: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1075963

Read the Ecosphere paper: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.70191