Shallow seas hide undiscovered species

Researchers using scanning electron microscopy and DNA analysis found two previously undescribed sea‑spider species in the shallow Salish Sea, the first regional sea‑spider discoveries in a century. The finds show that even well‑visited coastal habitats can house undocumented biodiversity, some of it tiny, parasitic, or carrying micro‑ecosystems on their bodies. — This suggests coastal biodiversity baselines are incomplete, so policymakers and funders should prioritize modern nearshore surveys and conservation planning that include Indigenous naming and local stewardship.