Tiny creatures moving 110 pounds of beach sand

Tiny shrimp-like crustaceans called sand hoppers have been found to excavate up to 110 pounds of sand per meter of California beach per day, according to new research from the University of California, Santa Barbara. This bioturbation, or the movement of sediment by living organisms, is significantly greater than previously thought.

Sand hoppers, which are only a few centimeters long, feed on kelp and other organic material and typically remain hidden during the day. However, they emerge at night to feed and create burrows in a specific zone of the beach with just the right moisture level. This activity not only moves large amounts of sand but also influences the physical landscape of the beach, potentially aiding in the formation of coastal dunes and affecting erosion patterns. The research highlights the often-overlooked role of animals in shaping coastal environments.