Inha University Research Team: "Beach Walking Negatively Impacts the Ecology of Protected Species 'Dallanggae'"

A new study has found that indiscriminate walking on beaches can have a negative impact on the ecology of Dallanggae, a marine protected species.

The research team led by Professor Kim Taewon of the Department of Marine Science at Inha University announced on January 7 that they have confirmed that human "backpressure" can disrupt the behavior of Dallanggae.

Backpressure refers to the act of stepping on the ground and applying pressure. As urbanization and human activities increase, there have been growing concerns that backpressure is having an adverse effect on ecosystems.

Dallanggae is designated as a marine protected species by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and is a representative organism inhabiting sandy beaches in Korea. Overseas, it is actively studied as an indicator species for various environmental factors such as climate change and microplastic pollution.

The research team observed that when a person steps over a Dallanggae burrow, the time it takes for the crab to emerge from the burrow increases, and its surface activity decreases. They also found that the time spent on vigilance behavior decreased in larger individuals but increased in smaller individuals.

Infographic on the Effects of Backpressure on Dallanggae. Provided by Inha University

The research team explained that due to these behavioral changes, Dallanggae may have relatively less time to invest in essential activities such as foraging and courtship. Since burrow structures in Dallanggae ecology serve not only as shelters but also play important roles in temperature and humidity regulation and territory marking, damage to burrows caused by backpressure directly disrupts their ecology.

This research was published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, an international journal ranked in the top 2% in the field of marine and freshwater biology.

Professor Kim stated, "The recent surge in barefoot walking culture centered around beaches could have a negative impact on the ecosystem," and emphasized, "Appropriate regulations and restrictions related to barefoot walking are needed to preserve the marine ecosystem."