A revolutionary international study has revealed that overlooked aquatic creatures could hold the key to monitoring global environmental changes. The research, spearheaded by the University of South Australia (UniSA), demonstrates that these less-studied aquatic species serve as “nature’s data recorders,” offering a window into historical environmental conditions.

Dr. Zoe Doubleday, the lead researcher from UniSA’s Future Industries Institute, worked alongside scientists from Canada, Croatia, and the UK. They brought together hundreds of research studies, examining the chemical changes found in the shells, teeth, and bones of a wide array of aquatic creatures.

Dr. Doubleday explained, “A range of aquatic organisms — from whales and seals to octopuses and even algae — hold chemical traces that provide us a chronicle of past environmental conditions. These traces can shed light on historical water temperatures, pollution levels, and overall ecosystem health. Additionally, they can help us forecast future environmental changes.”

This approach stands in contrast to traditional environmental monitoring methods which can be expensive, time-consuming, or sometimes outright unfeasible. “These aquatic organisms offer readily available data archives that can be deciphered using a scientific technique known as chemical sclerochronology,” elaborated Dr. Doubleday.

The team assembled a comprehensive database of studies on these often-ignored organisms, which ranged from sponges and barnacles to marine mammals and more. Their analysis identified gaps in the existing research, pointing out previously overlooked species and structures as potential alternative environmental indicators.

Dr. Doubleday highlighted the importance of their findings, stating, “Data on aquatic environments is both limited and difficult to obtain, especially in remote areas like the polar seas or deep oceans, which are particularly sensitive to climate change.”

She continued, “Broadening our approach beyond traditional methods and species will enable scientists to access a treasure trove of data that has been largely ignored until now. This will assist us in tracking environmental changes, species ecology, pollution, and human impacts. Ultimately, this will inform conservation strategies, enabling us to better manage our ecosystems.”