Shortly before COP21, we wrote about the educational kit developed at the Roscoff Biological Station in France’s Finistère region, which helps understand the consequences of climate change and ocean acidification on coral reefs, through the life cycle of photosymbiotic marine flatworms. Discovered in Roscoff in the 19th century, this plant-animal that feeds on an algae living inside its body has recently made headlines in international scientific media.
A British study published by the Royal Society demonstrates the collective behavioral dance of Symsagittifera roscoffensis as they sunbathe to enable photosynthesis. Since then, National Geographic, New Scientist, Vice Motherboard, Gizmodo, Live Science, Russian media and Le Monde have featured the worms. The tiny mint-sauce worms of Roscoff have become swirling big stars!